Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he isn’t planning to take a job with President-elect Donald Trump at the onset of his second presidential term, as virtually all of the Cabinet and other top spots have been filled.
Dunleavy, in the middle of his second term as governor, was mentioned by political observers and in media reports in the days after the Nov. 5 election as a finalist for Department of Interior Secretary, and when that failed to happen as a possible Cabinet member for the Department of Energy or Department of Education.
But the governor, during an appearance Monday on a conservative talk radio show hosted by Mike Porcaro, said he intends to finish out his second term that ends in 2026. Alaska’s Constitution limits governors to two consecutive four-year terms.
“I know there has been some talk, but the president and I have not had a discussion about a job,” Dunleavy said. “I really enjoy the job I have, and I look forward to helping Alaskans over the next two years.”
Dunleavy was discussing a job with members of Trump’s transition team, according to a Nov. 11 report by the political news website NOTUS that cited three anonymous sources “familiar with the conversations.” Dunleavy fueled intense speculation about that possibility the next day with a social media announcement that he and Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom would be making a joint announcement shortly, but then canceled the announcement 90 minutes later.
Dunleavy did not address the canceled announcement during his appearance on Porcaro’s show and spokespeople for the governor have said they do not know what he planned to announce. Dunleavy has enthusiastically endorsed Trump’s announced intent to expand oil drilling in Alaska and other natural resource extraction, and Trump has offered praise for Dunleavy during joint appearances.
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum was named Interior Secretary, Liberty Energy CEO Chris Wright named Energy Secretary and Trump transition leader Linda McMahon named Education Secretary.
A hasty, tumultuous and impulsive hiring process by Trump for his second administration has been described in multiple stories by national media outlets.
The Washington Post, in a Nov. 23 story, described competing factions within Trump camp engaging in “shouting matches, expulsions from meetings and name-calling, all between the public celebrations and rocket-ship photo ops.”
Reports have stated Trump’s picks for positions have caught many staffers by surprise, with a Nov. 23 Politico report describing the fast flurry of choices as “a menagerie of Fox News personalities, ultra-wealthy GOP patrons and MAGA true-believers, with a few genuine surprises sprinkled in. Call it the team of randos.”
• Contact Mark Sabbatini at mark.sabbatini@juneauempire.com or (907) 957-2306.
