Following President Joe Biden’s exit from the 2024 presidential race on Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the odds-on favorite to replace him as the Democratic nominee. With Harris accepting Biden’s endorsement and raking in support from other Democrats and major donors, speculation is swirling about who might be tapped as her running mate if she secures the party nomination.
While leaders in the Democratic Party have not made any official statements about the search for a vice-presidential contender, several names are already being floated as possibilities. These individuals include:
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
A popular governor of a crucial swing state, Shapiro would bring high approval ratings to the Harris campaign. Shapiro successfully overcame Trump-endorsed Doug Mastriano in the 2022 midterm elections, and he shares Harris’ background as a former attorney general.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Like Shapiro, Whitmer is also a popular governor in a key swing state, and her name has been raised as a possible presidential contender for several years.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
As the two-term Democrat governor of a solidly Republican state, Beshear has made abortion access a central issue of his platform, mirroring that of the Biden-Harris administration after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. He is also one of the youngest governors in the country, a possible boost to his popularity at a time when the age of leading politicians continues to be an issue.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker
Pritzker, a longtime surrogate for Biden, hails from one of the most extensive family dynasties in American politics and has quickly emerged as a strongly progressive choice in the Democratic Party. He also boasts a vast family fortune from ownership of the Hyatt hotel chain, giving him access to significant financial resources.
Arizona Senator Mark Kelly
Kelly, a former astronaut and husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, has won reelection twice in his swing state. Given that former President Donald Trump is currently polling well ahead of Biden in Arizona, a popular leader like Kelly could boost Harris’ standing in the state.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper
With his last term in office nearing its end, Cooper could prove to be an attractive option given the Democratic Party’s large investments in his state. Cooper and Harris, both former attorneys general, are said to have a “really good relationship” per CNN, and the vice president has visited North Carolina half a dozen times in the last year.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
Buttigieg, who ran against both Harris and Biden in the 2020 DNC primary, has remained a party favorite even after dropping out of the race and later joining Biden’s cabinet. Though often a target of Republican criticism given the state of supply lines and transportation in the US, Buttigieg is regarded highly within his party, and his record as mayor of South Bend, Indiana, as well as his status as a gay veteran, would also likely boost his performance on the 2024 ticket.
California Governor Gavin Newsom
The least likely name in the conversion, Newsom has long been seen as a promising presidential candidate. However, Newsom repeatedly insisted that he had no plans to challenge Biden for the nomination, and he threw his endorsement behind Harris almost immediately after Biden’s withdrawal. Though this does not necessarily rule out Newsom joining the ticket as Harris’ running mate, that possibility would raise a significant issue given their shared home state.
Under the 12th Amendment to the United States Constitution, the president and vice president “shall not be an inhabitant of the same state” or else forfeit that state’s electoral votes. Losing access to California’s 54 electors would be devastating to the Democratic cause, meaning that a Harris-Newsom ticket would require one of them to establish residence in another state.
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
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