Speculation has begun to swirl around who Vice President Kamala Harris might select as her running mate in the 2024 presidential election.
Following President Joe Biden‘s withdrawal from the race, pundits are lining up to predict who will join Harris on the ballot, with names like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and California Gov. Gavin Newsom reportedly in the mix.
Biden’s decision to leave the race and endorse Harris comes soon after former President Donald Trump announced his one-time critic, JD Vance, as his running mate.
“After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance of the Great State of Ohio,” Trump said on Truth Social, his social media platform.
If Trump and Vance win in November, Vance would be the fourth vice president from Ohio.
Which States Have Produced the Most Vice Presidents?
The state of New York has produced the most U.S. vice presidents. According to historical records, eleven vice presidents are affiliated with New York, while eight were actually born there. Notable vice presidents from New York include Martin Van Buren and Theodore Roosevelt.
Massachusetts has also been a key player, as the birthplace of four vice presidents, such as John Adams and George H. W. Bush. This state’s influence is tied to its early colonial history and role in the American Revolution.
Kentucky and Vermont have each produced three vice presidents. Kentucky’s vice presidents include Richard Mentor Johnson and Alben W. Barkley.
Three vice presidents also hail from Indiana: Thomas Marshall, Dan Quayle, and Mike Pence.
Other states, including California, New Jersey, and North Carolina have produced two vice presidents each. Current vice president Kamala Harris hails from Oakland, California, 400 miles away from Yorba Linda, where Richard Nixon was born. Nixon was vice president for eight years in 1950s and would later win election to the presidency in 1968.
Iowa, New Hampshire, Kansas, and Wyoming have each produced one vice president.
If Harris were to pick Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as her running mate, and that ticket went on to win in November, Whitmer would be the first vice president from the Wolverine State.
Trump’s decision to nominate Vance as his pick for vice president has drawn considerable attention, considering the latter’s previous history of criticism towards Trump.
In the past, Vance has described himself as a “never Trump guy,” and has said the former president was “unfit for office.” He was even reported to have likened Trump to Hitler.
The Ohio native has seemingly undergone a radical transformation since then.
With Vance as his vice president, Trump’s selection could be a strategic move to consolidate support from the working-class voters who were crucial to his victory in 2016.
Vance’s Rust-Belt background, and his memoir – “Hillbilly Elegy,” may resonate with these voters.
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Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
