Biden eyes seasoned Dem operative to be State spokesperson

Matthew Miller, a veteran Democratic communications operative, is the top contender to be the spokesperson for the State Department, according to three people familiar with the matter.

Miller led the effort to confirm Antony Blinken to be secretary of State earlier in the Biden administration and had a more recent stint last year as a special adviser to the National Security Council at the White House to lead communications and legislative work on the Ukraine invasion.

Miller would replace Ned Price, who took a policy focused role in Blinken’s office. The three people familiar with the matter were granted anonymity to freely discuss the information ahead of a formal announcement.

“We’re looking forward to announcing a new State Department spokesperson soon but have no personnel announcements to make at this time,” department spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement.

Miller did not respond to a request Monday for comment.

Miller is currently a partner at the strategic advisory firm Vianovo, where he advises boards, executives and well-known individuals on “government investigations, congressional inquiries, high-stakes litigation, activist campaigns, and social and political issues,” according to his firm's biography. He is also an MSNBC analyst.

Miller served as director of the office of public affairs at the Justice Department in the Obama administration and has also worked as communications director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.).