Political director: Jan Brewer, Joe Arpaio in the mix for Donald Trump’s Cabinet

PHOENIX — Both former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer and outgoing Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio are being considered for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet, a political director said.

“Those are names that are clearly still in the mix,” ABC News Political Director Rick Klein told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac & Gaydos on Wednesday.

Klein said Trump’s first two selections of his senior staff — GOP chief Reince Priebus and Breitbart news executive Stephen Bannon — are indicators of how he will choose his Cabinet. Both Priebus and Bannon displayed loyalty to Trump during the election.

Klein said Brewer and Arpaio were not only loyal to Trump, but helped him carry Arizona.

“That win in Arizona was a very, very big one for him (Trump) and Brewer and Sheriff Arpaio were major parts of that,” he said.

Both Brewer and Arpaio have popped up on several possible shortlists for Trump’s Cabinet.

Prior to selecting former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his running mate, there were rumors floating around that Brewer was being vetted as a possible vice presidential nominee.

“Jan Brewer has been fantastic. She has been so fantastic,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ “On the Record” in May. “You know I won so big, her territory, we won so big, and she is a fabulous woman.”

But Brewer remained mum last week when asked if she would accept a Cabinet position should she be offered one.

“You know, I haven’t given that a whole lot of thought,” she told Mac & Gaydos. “I would hate to have to think I would have to pick up and move to Washington, D.C. to participate in something like that.”

Arpaio has not spoken about a potential Cabinet spot.

However, his potential to take over as head of Homeland Security is not entirely out of reach. Arpaio has become a staunch advocate for border security over the years and was strongly in favor of Trump’s stances on immigration and terrorism.