While U.S. President Joe Biden is not seeking another term in office, the agriculture secretary he appointed to serve in his administration said he is open to the idea of another term.
According to a report from Radio Iowa, Secretary Tom Vilsack was asked about his future as agriculture secretary, if Vice President Kamala Harris, the presidential nominee of the Democratic party, gets elected in November.
“I’ve dedicated my life to try to figure out ways in which I can help farmers and small towns because of the important role they play in the country,” Vilsack said while attending the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa. “Regardless of where I might be or what I might be doing, I hope that I’m able to continue to contribute in that vein because that’s what I’ve done for the last 40 years and that’s what I hope to be able to continue to do until I take my last breath.”
Vilsack, who was a two-term governor of Iowa, first served as U.S. agriculture secretary during Barack Obama’s presidency in 2009-2017.
Following his first stint as agriculture secretary and during a Republican administration, Vilsack worked as the president and CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council.
When Biden, who was vice president under Obama, was elected four years later, Vilsack was asked to return to the agriculture secretary’s role.
Harris’ main election opponent, Donald Trump, served as U.S. president during Vilsack’s hiatus as agriculture secretary. During that time, Sonny Perdue was the agriculture secretary. Perdue is now the chancellor of the University System of Georgia. Multiple media outlets have reported Perdue does not desire to return to his former job.
