Gwen Graham, long-time Florida political figure, tapped for assistant secretary in U.S. Department of Ed.

President Joe Biden intends to nominate former North Florida Congresswoman Gwen Graham to serve as an assistant secretary in the U.S. Department of Education.

If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, she would serve as assistant secretary for legislation and congressional affairs.

“I’m so humbled to be nominated by President Biden to help serve America’s students, educators, and families. If confirmed, I’ll throw myself into this position, and fulfilling the President’s commitment to education, with all of my heart and soul,” Graham said on her Twitter feed.

“Graham brings decades of invaluable experience as a public education leader, federal legislator, and public servant to this role,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a written statement.

Graham, daughter of former Florida Gov. Bob Graham, represented a sprawling North Florida district in Congress between 2015 and 2017. She sought her party’s nomination for governor in 2018, but lost to Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum, who went on to lose narrowly to Republican Ron DeSantis.

According to an administration press release, Graham previously worked as an administrator for the Leon County school district.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried said in a written statement that she was “proud of her friend.” Fried is Florida’s only statewide-elected Democratic officeholder.

“In selecting Gwen Graham for assistant secretary of education, the president has chosen an exceptional Floridian with a heart for public service, a mind for addressing the challenges facing American education, and a passion for our nation’s students, teachers, schools, and families,” Fried said.

She continued: “Graham’s record of bipartisan results will help advance the President’s vision for education while creating opportunities to improve Florida’s schools.”