Biden expected to nominate California AG Xavier Becerra for HHS secretary
President-elect Joe Biden is expected to announce California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as his nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services in the coming days, according to three sources familiar with his plans.
The selection of Becerra, who served 12 terms in Congress and was a member of House Democratic leadership before his appointment to replace Kamala Harris as California's top law enforcement official, comes as Biden's campaign has faced criticism from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Latino advocacy groups about the diversity of his future cabinet.
Becerra, who has taken on the Trump administration over immigration, health care, gun control and environmental rules in over 100 lawsuits, was thought to be a potential attorney general nominee for Biden, or even a successor to Harris in the Senate next year.
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus encouraged Biden's senior aides to consider Becerra for that post, and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for the role of Health and Human Services secretary, in a call earlier this week, where members criticized Biden's transition over leaks regarding Lujan Grisham being offered another post in the incoming administration.
Should he be confirmed by the Senate, Becerra would take a leading role in the Biden administration's coronavirus response efforts.
Becerra, the son of Mexican immigrants, would be the first Latino to lead the department, and the second Latino nominated to serve in Biden's cabinet, after Alejandro Mayorkas, a Cuban immigrant and Biden's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
A Biden transition spokesperson declined to comment on the planned announcement. Becerra's office did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.
-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel, Katherine Faulders and Molly Nagle.