Democrats are pushing for their favorite colleagues and friends to be considered for Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate.
Harris is reportedly getting close to choosing a VP and could be out on the campaign trail with her second-in-command by her side as soon as next week.
After quickly obtaining the Democratic party‘s full support following President Joe Biden‘s monumental reelection exit just over a week ago, she started vetting potential No. 2 options.
The top contenders thought to be in the running include Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
Despite their differences, they’re all white and male, and provide different advantages for Harris’s campaign in several must-win states for Democrats.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris gestures during a campaign event in Wisconsin. Reports indicate that she will be campaigning with her yet-to-be-announced running mate next week
Beshear, Shapiro and Walz bring high-level executive experience to the role and have huge name recognition in their critical states of Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota.
Kelly is a well-known former astronaut from Arizona who has Senate experience under his belt after being elected in 2020.
Democrats need to win those states if they have any hope of securing the White House and down-ballot races.
The decision on who will join Harris on the ticket is expected in the coming days as she plans on campaigning with her running mate next week, sources revealed to Reuters on Tuesday.
Now, Democrats are revealing to DailyMail.com who they want to see at the top of the ticket with Kamala.
‘Both Kelly and Peters, both would be great,’ Virginia Democrat Sen. Tim Kaine – who was once selected himself as Hillary Clinton’s VP pick in 2016 – told DailyMail.com.
Kaine continued saying Harris has a multitude of great options but that she will have to hone in on the one who she feels ‘the chemistry with’ and who can ‘secure support in battleground states.’
‘First of all, it’s her decision, but I obviously have a favorite,’ Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. Bob Casey told DailyMail.com. ‘Both our governor, and good friend, Governor Josh Shapiro.’
His colleague, Illinois Democrat Sen. Tammy Duckworth, however, had a different idea.
‘So obviously my Governor J.B. Pritzker would be great,’ she said. ‘He turned around our state.’
Though Illinois Gov. Pritzker was her first choice, Duckworth also floated another name.
‘I also think Tim Walz would be really good,’ she revealed to DailyMail.com, adding the two spent time in the House together and that Walz, like herself, is a veteran, which she says ‘would be really helpful to a new commander-in-chief.’
The senators who are on the shortlist themselves did not disclose who they believe Harris should select.
Both Democratic senators have been reported to be in the race for Kamala Harris’s VP pick
‘That’s a good question,’ Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly told DailyMail.com, one of most talked about Democrats in the running mate race. ‘I think there are a lot of really good options out there, like many.’
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who is also suspected to be in the VP mix, similarly gave DailyMail.com a non-answer.
‘She’s got a lot of great folks to pick from,’ he said. ‘She’ll go through her process and I’m confident whoever she likes will be a great Vice President.’
When pressed about whether he wants the job after reports indicated that he was being looked at by Harris as a potential running mate, he again brushed off the inquiry.
‘We have to respect her process. She’s got a lot of people to be looking at. We’ll let her look at folks and make the right decision.’
Notably, all of the potential running mates reportedly being vetted by Harris are White men
Montana Democrat Sen. John Tester, who is in a bruising reelection campaign and is threatened to be bogged down by his affiliation with the Biden administration, stayed out of the VP speculation.
‘Now that’s a call for somebody besides me,’ Tester said of Harris’s VP pick.
Democrat Colorado Sen. John Hickenlooper said: ‘Governor [Jared] Polis in Colorado, I mean [Commerce Sec.] Gina Raimondo, [Transportation Sec.] Pete Buttigieg, there’s are a lot of talent out there.’
‘But I’m a big fan of Mark Kelly,’ he conceded. ‘I think he’s the closest thing to a national hero we have.’
The Colorado senator said Kelly’s time in the military and serving as an astronaut distinguish him from other contenders.
Hickenlooper added that Kelly reminds him of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who famously led the U.S. through WWII, saying he has ‘become well known for making everyone around [him] better.’
Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., said that Commerce Sec. Gina Raimondo and Illinois Gov. J.B. Prtizker would be good picks for Harris’s running mate. However, he said that he prefers Mark Kelly, who he called a national hero
Connecticut Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy told DailyMail.com he would not dare try to influence Harris’s choice for VP.
‘It would be the worst possible thing for me to give advice to Kamala Harris. She should pick who she thinks is the best fit for her and the best possible leader of the country.’
Massachusetts Democrat Sen. Elizabeth Warren simply said the vice president should ‘pick whoever she wants.’
One Michigan House Democrat, Rep. Shri Thanedar, threw his support behind Peters, saying he will support the senator after Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was dropped from consideration.
‘Supporting Sen. Gary Peters for VP,’ Thanedar posted on X Monday. ‘If not Gretchen, then Gary will be the best alternative.’
On the other side of the aisle, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley also weighed in, saying he liked his Arizona colleague for the spot.
Whoever is selected as Harris’s VP will face off against former President Donald Trump and his running mate Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance
‘I’m very impressed with Senator Kelly. I can understand why she’d vet him. I hope she doesn’t choose him, let’s put it that way,’ he told Reporters Tuesday.
‘He’s really sharp,’ Hawley continued. ‘And I think he obviously has a honorable record of serving this country in multiple different ways.’
Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn also did not suggest a running mate for Harris, ‘I’m just waiting and watching,’ he told DailyMail.com.
