Hillary Clinton Could Be the First ExCabinet Member to Win a Presidential Nomination Since 1928
If Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination for president next year, she'll be the first former Cabinet member to get a party's presidential nod in almost 90 years. The former Secretary of State launched her bid for the White House on Sunday afternoon, marking the first time since 1928 that any former cabinet member had a serious shot at the presidential nomination, according to data collected by the Pew Research Center. The overwhelming majority of Democratic or Republican nominees in recent years have been incumbent presidents, governors, senators or vice presidents, like then-Sen. Barack Obama, former Gov. Mitt Romney, and Sen. John McCain. In 1928, Commerce Secretary Herbert Hoover won the Republican nomination and then the presidency. Thomas Jefferson, who was the first U.S. Secretary of State, was the first former cabinet member to become president. Clinton, who has also been a senator, would also be the first-ever First Lady to win her party's nomination.