People line up as McMorris Rodgers a candidate for cabinet

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - With Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington a candidate to be a member of the cabinet of President-elect Donald Trump, politicians are already scrambling to possibly replace her in Congress.

McMorris Rodgers emerged as a leading contender to head the Interior Department, according to a person involved in the transition.

Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart, a Democrat, immediately threw his hat into the ring Friday.

Stuckart would be the first Democrat to represent the conservative 5th Congressional District since Tom Foley, who rose to become Speaker of the House before he was voted out in 1994.

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich, a Republican, is also interested.

McMorris Rodgers, 47, is a conservative who won the open House seat in 2004 and has been easily re-elected since.