The Wall Street Journal‘s Jonathan Weisman says she might be. Maxwell, a “gay woman, community organizer and labor leader with an adopted African American son,” is on the shortlist for Labor Secretary, Weisman reports. Maxwell, the “founding executive director of American Rights at Work,” recently received endorsements from Representative David Bonior and the HRC—-who just last week wrote to Barack Obama asking for him to consider Representative Linda Sanchez. Writes Weisberg:

Today, the gay rights group Human Rights Campaign will release a letter to President-elect Barack Obama strongly backing her. The catch: The group last week backed Rep. Linda Sanchez for the post.

“You would have received our letter in support of Representative Sánchez’s candidacy for Secretary of Labor last week,” HRC President Joe Solmonese writes, asking for a mulligan.

If nominated—-and confirmed—-Maxwell would be the first openly gay U.S. presidential cabinet member.