And the appointments keep rolling in. Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano (a top pick for many during the veepstakes) has been tapped to be secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. As Politico mentions, border security and illegal immigration are two aspects of the new position that Napolitano has experience in, having taken on those who promote illegal immigration (rather than the immigrants themselves) in her state. 

Nate Silver frames the appointment in terms of loss. Napolitano was expected to run for Senate in 2010 and would run a strong campaign against John McCain. While possible that she could still do so, it is unlikely she would step down so quickly from Homeland Security. Taking Napolitano out of Arizona’s governor seat would also promote Republican Secretary of State Jan Brewer sine the state has no lieutenant governor. But it isn’t certain that Napolitano would beat McCain and term limits prevent her for running for governor again. And Homeland Security is in desperate need of a clean up. 

Napolitano is a graduate of Santa Clara University and the University of Virginia School of Law. She served as a trial lawyer (notably representing Anita Hill) before being appointed as the U.S. Attorney to the District of Arizona by President Clinton. She became Arizona’s attorney general in 1998 and the governor in 2002. Time magazine named her one of the top five governors in the United States three years later.

She was a strong supporter of Barack Obama on the campaign trail, announcing her support of him early this year. The day after the election, she was appointed to the advisory board of the transition team.