Sandberg and Brainard both may have problems passing Warren’s muster because of their ties to moderate Democrats such as Lawrence Summers and Timothy Geithner.

Through a spokeswoman, Sandberg pointed to a statement last month that she wants to stay at Facebook. Brainard said through a Fed spokeswoman that she is not in conversation with either campaign.

A TIAA spokesman declined to comment on Ferguson, and a Treasury spokesman said Raskin would not comment. Mnuchin, Icahn and Ross did not respond to requests for comment.

Diverse Cabinet

The Clinton camp wants to use the Treasury position to establish a pattern of diversity in her Cabinet. Her advisers also want to reach beyond the familiar Washington establishment as liberals including Warren show hostility to the titans of finance and industry who have usually filled the job.

Trump has almost no ties to Washington’s lobbying industry or the financial services sector. His top staff are largely political newcomers, and he has relied on advice from the conservative Heritage Foundation. His most prominent backer in the financial services industry, former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, withdrew his support after the release of an Access Hollywood video in which Trump made lewd remarks about women.

Mnuchin, 53, the founder of Dune Capital Management, joined Trump’s campaign only in April, after stopping by a victory party at Trump Tower in Manhattan after the New York primary. Icahn, 80, and Ross, who was born in 1937, have acted as occasional surrogates for Trump on economic matters; Icahn penned a blog post in August that called Trump "right on about our economy."

Whether Warren’s wing of the Democratic party or Republicans approve of the Treasury nominee, who is subject to Senate confirmation, will depend on who the new president appoints for other key roles such as head of the Securities and Exchange Commission and White House chief of staff. Hacked e-mails released by WikiLeaks show Clinton’s campaign advisers have been acutely aware of Warren’s sway since the start of the race.

Warren’s office declined to comment.

One person close to the Clinton campaign who confirmed the people under consideration cautioned that Clinton herself has not yet weighed in on the choice. The outcome of Senate elections likely will influence her decision, as her leeway to make a more liberal nomination would be reduced if Republicans retain control of the chamber.