Who will be Kamala Harris' VP? Here's the possible contenders.
Not long after President Joe Biden announced Sunday he would drop out of the presidential race, attention swiveled to his heir apparent and vice president, Kamala Harris.
Harris, who secured Biden’s endorsement, is likely contemplating who she wishes to take her place and join her as running mate.
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Any shortlist is currently unclear, however, speculation has run rampant in recent days over who may be considered for the Harris presidential ticket. In no particular order, a litany of possible candidates is being floated by various pundits, journalists and political operatives.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Whitmer, 52, who has become one of the party’s leading figures in recent years, is also floated as a possible pick. She has been governor of Michigan — a state considered a crucial battleground for winning the White House this year — since 2019. She served in the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 and the Michigan Senate from 2006 to 2015.
The Harris-Whitmer ticket would be the first all-women ticket in history.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper
Cooper, 67, rose to national attention for opposing a bill that wanted to ban transgender individuals from public restrooms matching their gender identity. The governor is in his second term as governor.
The New York Times reported Cooper was “an emerging favorite” for Harris, and she has spoken publicly about her good relationship with the governor.
In a statement Sunday, Cooper thanked Biden for his service, saying he is “deeply grateful to call President Joe Biden my friend.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
The 51-year-old Shapiro took Pennsylvania’s governorship in 2023. Previously, he was the state’s attorney general from 2017 to 2023.
In a Sunday statement on X, formerly Twitter, reacting to Biden’s announcement, Shapiro joined the chorus of Democratic lawmakers praising the president while saying little or nothing of Harris.
“I am proud to work by his side and am grateful for his leadership and his unwavering commitment to delivering for Pennsylvania — the Commonwealth that raised him,” he said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom
The California governor, 56, has become one of the most prominent Democratic figures over the last few years, and is currently in his second term leading the Golden State. He has been one of the most vocal supporters of Biden, serving as a campaign surrogate and holding a televised governor-on-governor debate with Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The former mayor of San Francisco has also been a source of support on the issue of abortion rights, one that has become a cornerstone of Harris’ campaigning for Biden over the past several months and is expected to continue into her bid for president.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear
Beshear, 46, is among the youngest to be floated as a possible vice presidential pick for Harris. A governor in his second term, he served as Kentucky’s Attorney General between 2016 and 2019.
The Democrat has remained a vocal supporter of Biden and told The Courier-Journal that he would only consider putting his name on a presidential ticket if he “could help the commonwealth even more through some other opportunity.”
Since January, Beshear has traveled to out-of-state Democratic fundraisers at least five times, while launching a PAC to support Democrats in red and purple states.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker
A billionaire known for raking in millions for the Democratic party over the years, 59-year-old Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who has been governor since 2019, is also considered a possibility.
Pritzker was widely reported to have personally appealed to Biden on Chicago’s behalf to win the bid to host the Democratic National Convention.
Other contenders
The current U.S. transportation secretary and former naval officer Pete Buttigieg has also been suggested as a possible pick. The 42-year-old rose to prominence during his 2020 run for the Democratic nomination. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly also joins the list, as does Maryland Gov. Wes Moore.
Kathryn Palmer is an elections fellow for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @KathrynPlmr.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Who will be Kamala Harris' vice president in 2024 election
