President-elect Donald Trump is 'seriously intrigued' with the idea of adding a Democrat to his cabinet, a senior transition aide said Thursday.

The source told DailyMail.com that 'it wouldn't be wrong to say several' elected Democrats have entered into his discussions about how to staff the uppermost positions in his administration-to-be.

Those comments come as Trump is set to meet with North Dakota Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp on Friday. She is being discussed as a potential agriculture secretary, the aide said, adding that there are 'other slots' she could fill.

Trump met 10 days ago with Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, despite her public endorsement of Vermont's colorful senator Bernie Sanders during the Democratic presidential primary season.

North Dakota Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp will meet Friday with Donald Trump

A senior aide to Trump, shown boarding his plane Thursday on the way to Indiana, says the president-elect is 'seriously intrigued' with the idea of putting a Democrat in his cabinet, and 'it wouldn't be wrong to say several' Democrats are on his mind

Former Tennessee Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr. is also rumored to be a possible cabinet pick. Ford was a Hillary Clinton donor this year but is reportedly close with Trump's adult children who serve on his transition executive committee.

And West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is in the mix to helm the Department of Energy,Politico reported Thursday afternoon.

President Barack Obama appointed two Republicans to his cabinet in 2009, former Illinois congressman Ray LaHood as secretary of transportation and Robert Gates as secretary of defense.

George W. Bush tapped Democrat Norman Mineta to run the Transportation Department. Bill Clinton made Republican William Cohen his Pentagon chief.

Heitkamp told a CNN reporter on Thursday that she doesn't know why she is meeting with Trump. but she wouldn't rule out joining the new administration.

Trump met 10 days ago with Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (right); former Democratic Rep. Harold Ford Jr. (left) is also reportedly in the mix for a cabinet slot

She said in a statement: 'I appreciate the president-elect inviting me for a meeting.'

'Whatever job I do, I hope to work with the president-elect and all of my colleagues in Congress on both sides of the aisle to best support my state,' she added.

A Trump transition team spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday afternoon.

But communications director Jason Miller in the morning called Heitkamp 'very highly recommended, very highly qualified as a proven leader,' adding that she 'would be an asset in any role or capacity.'

A bonus for recruiting Heitkamp would likely come in the form of an added U.S. Senate seat for Republicans.

Trump Tower has been the scene of palace intrigue since the Nov. 8 election, with potential cabinet members and West Wing hopefuls making appearances in the building's ornate lobby

Heitkamp won her Senate race in 2012 despite running in a deep-red state, but her margin of victory was less than 1 percentage point.

This year incumbent Republican Sen. John Hoeven was re-elected with more than 78 per cent of the vote, giving him the most decisive such victory in the state's history.

That's a sign that a special election to fill Heitkamp's seat until January 2019 would almost certainly swing in the GOP's direction.

Republicans are guaranteed to hold at least 51 of the Senate's 100 seats when the 115th Congress convenes in January. The Democrats hold 46.

Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine are officially 'independent' but caucus with the Democrats.

The final seat will be determined by a runoff election Dec. 10 in Louisiana.

Turning a 51-seat majority into 52 would give the new White House added room to maneuver Trump's cabinet picks through potentially contentious confirmation hearings.

Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul has signaled that he might oppose cabinet nominees who don't please him and persuade another senator to join him – leaving Team Trump with just 49 senators in their corner.