Topline
Vice President Kamala Harris has narrowed her potential running mate picks to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, multiple outlets reported, hours before she is expected to announce her pick for the No. 2 spot.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally on June 28, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Bizuayehu … [+]
Key Facts
The vice president is likely to debut her pick Tuesday, multiple outlets reported, after she reportedly interviewed Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly during a series of meetings Sunday.
Several other candidates could still be in the mix despite Sunday’s interviews, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, according to the New York Times, Washington Post and CNN.
Harris’ team reportedly vetted about a dozen people, including the top contenders as well as Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (though Cooper and Whitmer have publicly dismissed the idea).
Shapiro, who like Harris, previously served as his home state’s attorney general, is popular in Pennsylvania and could help shore up support in a must-win Rust Belt state for Democrats.
Kelly—a former astronaut and husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz.—also represents a swing state Biden narrowly won in 2020, and he defeated Trump-backed Republican Blake Masters in the 2022 midterm to help Democrats maintain control of the Senate.
Walz, who chairs the Democratic National Convention rules committee, leads a midwestern state with fairly close elections—but he told CBS Minneapolis affiliate WCCO last week becoming vice president is something he would “be a little nervous about.”
Kentucky’s popular governor, Beshear, who has won his deep-red state twice, is another potential pick for the No. 2 spot on a new Democratic ticket, though Democrats would still be unlikely to win Kentucky.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Pritzker are other names commonly floated, but they could be at a disadvantage since they represent blue states, while Raimondo—who served as Rhode Island governor—is also reportedly under consideration.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Buttigieg (who both endorsed Harris) are other potential candidates who have national name recognition from their 2020 presidential campaigns.
Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., if chosen, could also draw Black voters in the key swing state, where he’s proven he can beat Republicans—twice—in closely contested races, but if he leaves the Senate, his state’s Republican governor would pick his successor.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore is another rising star in the Democratic party, but he said Monday he has “no intention” of leaving his current role.
What To Watch For
Harris is expected to announce her running mate ahead of a Tuesday campaign stop in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania, which will mark the start of a four-day tour of seven swing states, Politico reported, adding Harris is expected to officially announce her running mate some time before then.
Key Background
Biden announced on July 21 he would end his 2024 presidential campaign, saying he believed “it is in the best interest of my party and the country to stand down.” His announcement came after he fended off calls from more than 30 elected Democrats to drop out of the race following a rough performance in last month’s debate. He promptly endorsed Harris as his replacement, she announced plans to seek the nomination moments later, and Democrats quickly fell in line behind her.
Tangent
Harris, Whitmer, Newsom, Buttigieg, Pritzker and Klobuchar all poll behind Trump in hypothetical matchups, according to a CNN/SSRS poll taken before Biden dropped out of the race. All fare better than Biden, who trails the former president by six points. Harris performs best of the six, polling two points behind Trump. Kelly had the highest favorability rating, by far, of nine potential VP picks tested in a Reuters/Ipsos poll released Sunday, with 22% viewing him favorably, and 12% viewing him unfavorably, for a net rating of +10. Beshear, Buttigieg and Shapiro each had a +4 net favorability rating.
Further Reading
2022 midterms, 2024 presidential campaign, the January 6 House committee investigation, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s historic ouster, the 2023 State of the Union Address, former President Donald Trump’s federal election interference and classified documents cases and his Manhattan hush money case. Dorn graduated in 2012 from the University of Dayton with a degree in journalism. Prior to joining Forbes, she covered New York City and state politics for the New York Post and City and State magazine. Follow her for updates and analysis on the 2024 presidential race, key Senate and House races and developments in Congress and at the White House.
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