James Steinberg

James Steinberg is slated to become the next Deputy Secretary of State. Andrea Mitchell said Steinberg will serve in the position on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."  Steinberg had been mentioned as a possible candidate for National Security Advisor, however it looks increasingly likely that retired Gen. James Jones will be tapped for NSA instead.

The State Department, like the White House, will have ample leadership from President Bill Clinton's administration if Steinberg does get the Foggy Bottom post.  He served as Clinton's deputy National Security Advisor.  This time, however, Steinberg may be reporting to a different Clinton.

There is a tug of war going on inside President-elect Obama's transition team over who will become the next National Security Advisor. Obama apparently has his own preferred candidate, and his advisors have theirs.

Gen. James Jones, a retired Marine, is the "leading candidate" to serve in the national security post, ABC News reports. Jones led NATO and U.S. forces in Europe. James Steinberg, who served as deputy National Security Advisor under President Clinton, has also been considered. Steinberg is the dean of the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas Austin. He previously served as a vice-president of the Brookings Institution where he was director of Foreign Policy Studies. He has a "great deal of support in the foreign policy community," the network says.

U.S. Rep. Silvestre Reyes has not been selected to be the next secretary of Homeland Security. Politico reports that Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano has been selected to head the agency. Although Reyes was not considered a marquee contender, his name had emerged in some news reports. The El Paso Democrat heads the House Intelligence committee.

Reyes spokesman Vince Perez told PolitickerTX.com Reyes had not been approached by anyone connected to the incoming administration about the post.  He added Reyes may issue a statement about Napolitano's selection when she officially accepts the appointment offer.

Many Texans may be leaving the Bush White House soon, but there's no shortage of candidates in the Lone Star state who might replace them.

Several Texans have emerged as contenders for posts in President-elect Barack Obama's administration. Obama has already asked two Texans to join his transition team: Juliet Garcia, president of the University of Texas-Brownsville and Texas Southmost College, and Espiridion "Al" Borrego, a University of Texas-Pan American professor and former United States Department of Labor official.

The following is a list of potential appointees based on various news reports and PolitickerTX.com's own research.

The names of two Texans are being floated for positions in a potential Obama administration, should the Illinois Democrat win the presidency Tuesday. According to various reports, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk is a possible contender for Commerce Secretary, while James Steinberg of the LBJ School of Public Affairs is being mentioned for National Security Advisor.

The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder mentioned both men in an Oct. 31 post in which he described "tips, rumors and noise" about who would fill positions in the next administration.