State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, who was a leading contender to replace Nikki Haley at the UN, has fallen out of the running, and defeated Senate candidate John James is under consideration, according to reports.

James, a businessman, was defeated in his run against Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, but managed to win 46 per cent of the vote. He would become one of only a few senior black officials in the Trump administration.

President Donald Trump had talked up Nauert's chances publicly following the announcement that ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley was stepping down. But her stock appears to have fallen.

FOGGY BOTTOM IS OKAY, TOO: Department of State Spokesperson Heather Nauert has been mentioned as a possible pick to be US ambassador to the UN

Politico cited a senior administration official who said she was out of the running entirely.

That is a turn around from weeks ago, when Trump talked up Nauert's prospects as the administration was losing its most prominent female policy voice, days before an election with a record number of women candidates.

Trump said Nov. 1 that Nauert, a former Fox News cohost, was 'under very serious consideration,' adding: 'She's excellent. She's been with us a long time.'

People close to the president said she fit his 'central casting' credentials, according to Politico.

Bloomberg reported this week that Trump was considering James for the post.

James runs a family warehousing business in Detroit. Her flew Apache helcipters in the Iraq war and graduated from West Point, but doesn't have other foreign policy or diplomatic credentials.

Another woman, former deputy national security adviser Dina Powell, took herself out of consideration soon after her name got floated in October.

The U.S. ambassador to Germany, Ric Grennel, also has been mentioned, though he is said to be enjoying his posting.

Heather Nauert is a former Fox News cohost

John James, right, and Vice President Mike Pence campaign with Republican candidates at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids on Monday, Oct 29, 2018