Following President Joe Biden’s exit from the 2024 presidential race, and Vice President Kamala Harris turning into the Democratic Celebration’s presumptive presidential nominee, one of many subsequent huge questions that’s emerged is who may probably be her operating mate.
Traditionally, vice presidents have been chosen to enrich the principle candidate. Biden, as an example, named Harris as a result of she would carry youth, variety, and authorized expertise. And former President Donald Trump selected Vice President Mike Pence as a result of he was a conventional conservative and supplied legislative experience that he didn’t have.
President Joe Biden endorsed Kamala Harris for president. Right here’s what to learn about her.
Vice President Kamala Harris may substitute Biden on the high of the Democratic ticket in 2024.
What may Harris search for? Primarily based on that historical past, there are a number of guesses: Her choose could possibly be somebody from a purple or purple state, who provides geographic variety given her roots in California. And — to assuage voters who nonetheless maintain sexist or racist attitudes, as President Barack Obama did with Biden in 2008 — it is perhaps a white man. In response to some reviews, her quick listing has narrowed to three high contenders: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Nonetheless, different names — together with a few of her colleagues within the Biden administration — are potentialities as effectively.
Harris is predicted to announce her selection someday earlier than August 7. Beneath is a rundown of a number of the candidates reportedly into account — and what they’d carry to the ticket.
Who’s he? Shapiro, 51, is the governor of Pennsylvania, one other possible battleground state (with 19 Electoral Faculty votes), which Biden received in 2020 and which former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton misplaced in 2016.
He was elected in 2022, the identical 12 months that freshman Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was elected to the Senate. Shapiro ran far forward of Fetterman, profitable 57 % of the vote, to Fetterman’s 51 %. Shapiro has established himself as a average who helped negotiate bipartisan offers when he was within the state legislature, and can be identified for his work as lawyer basic, when he secured settlements for victims of sexual abuse by the Catholic Diocese. He’s additionally been a vocal supporter of Israel amid the nation’s devastating navy offensive in Gaza, following Hamas’ brutal October 7 assault.
What’s the case for him? Like Cooper, he’s the favored Democratic governor of a swing state and will assist the get together enhance their probabilities there. He’s additionally seen as extra of a centrist who may enchantment to average voters and independents, although his staunch backing of Israel may flip away progressive Democrats.
Who’s he? Kelly is the junior senator of Arizona — a swing state with 11 Electoral Faculty votes — who was elected in 2020 by framing himself as a candidate keen to work throughout the aisle. Beforehand, Biden received Arizona in 2020, whereas Clinton misplaced the state in 2016. Kelly can be identified for his profession as an astronaut alongside his twin brother Scott Kelly, and because the husband of gun management advocate and former US Rep. Gabby Giffords.
What’s the case for him? Kelly has the next profile than a number of the different names on this listing, and is revered each for his scientific experience and contributions as an astronaut along with his time within the Senate. He’s been a distinguished gun management advocate alongside Giffords and made pushing these insurance policies a precedence.
Given his efforts to enchantment to each Republicans and independents in Arizona, he’d be an alternative choice who may assist with attempting to succeed in these voters. Arizona additionally continues to be an essential battleground this time round, together with in its Senate race.
Who’s he? Walz, 60, is in his second time period as governor of Minnesota. A former highschool instructor, he’s been in politics for many years, having began as a member of Congress in 2007. He obtained nationwide consideration for main his get together by means of a 2023 legislative session that noticed Democrats within the state obtain a litany of long-held ambitions, together with on police reform, boosting schooling funding, marijuana legalization, abortion protections, little one tax credit, and extra.
What’s the case for him? Walz is the well-liked chief of a purplish state with a file of advancing Democratic priorities by means of his state legislature and with sturdy ties to organized labor. A Midwesterner, Walz may show to be a helpful surrogate for shoring up assist in his personal state, in addition to ones like Michigan and Wisconsin. And like lots of the different potential vp picks on this listing, he’s already proved to be a sturdy Harris surrogate on tv information.
Who’s he? Beshear, 46, is the governor of Kentucky and has received twice in a purple state that beforehand overwhelmingly voted for Trump.
As governor, he’s been praised for his dealing with of the Covid-19 pandemic in addition to a number of crises within the state, together with a mass taking pictures at a financial institution and extreme flooding. Previous to this position, he additionally served as Kentucky’s lawyer basic.
What’s the case for him? Beshear is the uncommon Democrat who has been capable of win a number of instances in a purple state and will provide further enchantment to some swing voters. Along with the assist he’s obtained for his management throughout numerous crises, he’s additionally touted infrastructure and personal sector funding within the state throughout his tenure.
In contrast to different potentialities, although, he most likely wouldn’t improve Harris’s probabilities of profitable his residence state, which is solidly GOP.
Who’s he? J.B. Pritzker, 59, is the governor of Illinois, a Democratic state that Biden and Clinton each received in 2020 and 2016. Earlier than turning into governor, he was a businessman and philanthropist, and is a scion of the household behind Hyatt accommodations, who’ve additionally been constant and influential Democratic donors.
As governor, Pritzker has established a modest nationwide profile, together with remarks he’s given attacking Trump and calls he’s made for extra federal assets to handle immigration in Illinois.
What’s the case for him? Pritzker has already constructed some identify recognition as a fixture on cable information, and has confirmed to be a vocal Trump antagonist. Pritzker’s private wealth may additionally probably be a boon to the marketing campaign, although his personal state is just not a battleground that may broaden the Democratic map.
Who’s he? Buttigieg, 42, is the secretary of transportation who rose to prominence as a former 2020 presidential candidate. He’s staked out extra average positions and was beforehand mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
He’s turn out to be identified for his media savvy and powerful tv appearances as an advocate for the Biden-Harris administration. He’s additionally had to reply to crises together with the practice accident and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio, in addition to the Alaska Airways mishap when a door plug dropped out of a airplane.
What’s the case for him? Buttigieg has been a powerful spokesperson for the Biden-Harris White Home and is well-established among the many Democratic citizens. He’s among the many youngest of alternatives, would contribute extra illustration from the Midwest, and will enchantment to centrist voters. He’d additionally turn out to be the primary brazenly LGBTQ individual to be on a presidential ticket.
Who’s she? Raimondo is the previous governor of Rhode Island, and at present serves as Biden’s secretary of commerce. As governor, she gained nationwide consideration for her strategy to the Covid-19 pandemic, which prioritized testing and tracing, and noticed companies reopening sooner than in lots of different states. As commerce secretary, she’s been a vocal advocate for American manufacturing and served as one of many faces of the administration’s China coverage.
What’s the case for her? At 53, Raimondo — like lots of the names on this listing — is a part of the subsequent era of Democratic leaders. She comes from an East Coast state, providing geographical variety, and would carry enterprise ties and overseas coverage expertise honed throughout her years as commerce secretary. She’d additionally make historical past, giving the USA its first presidential ticket that includes two ladies, one thing Raimondo mentioned the nation is “completely” prepared for.
Who’s he? Newsom, 56, is the governor of California, and a longstanding political character. He’s been a vocal advocate for extra progressive insurance policies, and for Democrats to extra instantly confront Republicans.
Previous to being governor, he was additionally lieutenant governor and mayor of San Francisco.
What’s the case for him? Newsom has already made clear that he needs to be a fighter for Democrats and has supporters who’re considering his strategy. He’s additionally used alternatives like a debate towards Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to make some splashy factors for the get together and to get extra consideration, and will do the identical for a attainable marketing campaign.
As governor of California, nonetheless, he wouldn’t carry further geographic variety to the ticket, and he additionally wouldn’t assist with delivering a swing state, as his personal is solidly Democratic. As well as, Newsom and Harris are each Californians, in order that they’d additionally possible need to cope with points raised by the twelfth Modification of the Structure, which prohibits two operating mates from the identical state.
Who’s she? Whitmer, 52, is the governor of Michigan, a key swing state with 15 Electoral Faculty votes that Biden received in 2020 and that Clinton misplaced in 2016.
She’s been a preferred chief on this position, and was initially identified for the way a lot she emphasised infrastructure and “fixing the rattling roads.” Since then she’s been an outspoken advocate for abortion rights and for gender fairness, talking brazenly about how she was sexually assaulted in faculty. Previous to being governor, Whitmer was a member of the state legislature and the primary girl to turn out to be the Democratic chief of the state Senate.
What was the case for her? She’s among the many members of the listing who’ve sturdy and constructive nationwide recognition, and who may assist increase Democrats’ probabilities in a pivotal swing state. Whitmer has additionally centered on points together with infrastructure and well being care, which may broaden Democrats’ enchantment to average voters. And if Harris and Whitmer have been on the identical ticket, they might kind a groundbreaking all-woman ticket — one thing that neither main get together has run earlier than.
Why she received’t be the brand new VP: Lower than 24 hours after Biden endorsed Harris, Whitmer emphatically instructed reporters that she has no want to be vp. “I’m not planning to go anyplace,” she mentioned, including, “I’m not leaving Michigan; I’m proud to be the governor of Michigan.”
Who’s he? Cooper, 67, is the governor of North Carolina, a battleground state that Trump received narrowly in 2020 and 2016 that provides 16 electoral votes (of the 270 wanted to win). He’s identified for profitable repeatedly statewide at the same time as different Democratic candidates have struggled to do the identical for roles just like the Senate.
As governor, he’s additionally vetoed Republican payments on abortion and weapons, and has sturdy approval rankings total. Previous to turning into governor, he served because the state’s lawyer basic and within the state legislature.
What’s the case for him? Cooper may assist enhance Democrats’ probabilities in a battleground state, although it should nonetheless possible be an uphill battle given previous contests in North Carolina. He’s additionally been fairly widespread in his position, and has secured backing from some moderates and Republicans.
He beforehand collaborated with Harris whereas they every served as their states’ AG, which means they’ve expertise working alongside each other. And extra not too long ago, Harris and Cooper have campaigned collectively within the wake of Biden’s disastrous June debate, throughout which the governor cautioned towards the return of “Donald Trump’s America.”
Why he received’t be the brand new VP: In an announcement, Cooper mentioned he was “honored to be thought-about,” however that “[t]his simply wasn’t the precise time for North Carolina and for me to probably be on a nationwide ticket.” Cooper reportedly instructed Harris’s group shortly after he search started that he’d wish to withdraw from consideration over issues that his lieutenant governor — a Republican — would use a quirk in state legislation to enact far-right insurance policies if Cooper have been to journey out of state to marketing campaign.
Replace, July 31, 2024, 10:20 am ET: This piece was initially revealed on July 21 and has been up to date a number of instances, most not too long ago to incorporate potential vice presidents being faraway from the operating, and the addition of candidates into account.
Correction, July 21, 2024, 11:59 pm ET: A earlier model of this story misstated Gabby Giffords’s place on weapons. She is a gun management advocate.