Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms turns down cabinet role in Biden administration as pressure mounts for the president-elect to create the 'most diverse' cabinet in history
Keisha Lance Bottoms has turned down an opportunity to join the cabinet in the incoming Joe Biden administration.
Bottoms is currently the Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, and is seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party.
She was even seen as a potential running mate for Biden when he entered the race and was vetted for the role, a position that ultimately went to VP-elect Kamala Harris.
According to Forbes, Bottoms was being considered to head up the Small Business Administration, although it's not immediately clear whether or not that was the role she was offered by Biden.
The New York Times considered her a contender for leading the Housing and Urban Development Department; but Representative Marcia L. Fudge was nominated for that position on Friday.
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has declined a cabinet role in the Biden administration
It's not clear what role Biden offered to the mayor, though several opportunities were rumored
She was also rumored to be in contention for an ambassadorship with the Bahamas being floated as a possibility, though that never transpired.
'Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms was honored to have been offered a role in the Cabinet, which she respectfully declined,' Bottoms' senior adviser Rashad Taylor said in a statement.
'Out of respect for the process, and the other candidates under consideration, no additional comment will be forthcoming on this matter at this time.'
It is not yet clear why she turned down the role.
There are seven cabinet positions that remain without potential nominees for the Biden administration, including the role of attorney general.
Bottoms became a notable public figure over the past year when she sparred with Georgia governor Brian Kemp about COVID-19 restrictions, typically going further than Kemp in implementing public safety measures as Kemp tried to reopen the Georgian economy ahead of other states.
Bottoms was also a leading national voice in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, herself having to deal with the killing of Rayshard Brooks in June.
Bottoms campaigned on behalf of Biden after endorsing him for president in June 2019
Bottoms received acclaim this year for her response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Atlanta
Bottoms will now likely focus on her reelection for the Atlanta mayorship in 2021
She spoke at several campaign events during Biden's run for president after endorsing the president-elect in June 2019.
Bottoms will likely turn her attention now towards running for reelection in Atlanta in 2021.
Meanwhile, there is pressure mounting in regards to diversity for each of Biden's remaining cabinet picks after saying he would create the 'most diverse' cabinet of all-time.
Biden has largely followed through with that pledge, but it has been difficult to meet the challenge of acquiescing many different parties who want to see a specific demographic nomination.
According to The Hill, former HUD Secretary Julian Castro called the cabinet picks 'so far so good' in terms of their diversity, but also admitted 'it's a work in progress.'
So far, seven women and nine people of color have been selected for cabinet positions. Barack Obama started with seven women and ten people of color in his cabinet, widely accepted as the most diverse cabinet to start a presidential tenure.
