Gov. Gary Locke Likely To Commerce

Former Wash. Gov. Gary Locke Likely To Commerce


Former Washington governor Gary Locke, shown here in Jan. 2007, is expected to be named this week as President Obama's choice to head Commerce. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Former Washington State Gov. Gary Locke is the likely pick to be commerce secretary, according to several senior White House officials.

Locke is the third nominee put forth by President Obama to head the Commerce Department. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D) stepped aside after allegations of pay-to-play politics involving his administration cropped up, while New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg (R) removed himself from consideration after deciding his ideological differences with the administration were too great to overcome.

Locke, a Democrat, spent eight years as the governor of Washington State -- from 1996 until 2004 -- and before that served stints as the chief executive in King County (Seattle) and in the Washington state House.

When he was elected in 1995 Locke became the first -- and to date the only -- Chinese American to serve as the governor of a state.

Locke's appeal to the White House was threefold, according to those briefed on the decision. First, he built a solid record as governor -- including overseeing the rapid growth of the Washington economy. Second, he is well known as a strait-laced politician who has never been weighed down with ethical baggage. Third, he furthers Obama's commitment to diversity as the third Asian American in the Cabinet.

During the 2008 presidential primary season, Locke was the co-chair of then Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign and is personal friends with both Clinton and her husband -- former president Bill Clinton.

Obama swamped Clinton in Washington and, after she left the race, Locke threw his support to Obama.

Locke would be the third resident of the Evergreen State named to the Obama administration, following deputy HUD secretary-nominee Ron Sims and Seattle City Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske who reportedly has been tapped to serve as "drug czar."

Should he win confirmation Locke faces several challenges at Commerce, including the upcoming decennial census, the operation of which proved to be a key stumbling block for Gregg.

Washington Post staff writer Ed O'Keefe contributed to this report.

By Chris Cillizza | February 23, 2009; 5:19 PM ET | Category: White House
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