Janice R. Andrews
WASHINGTON – Three governors from folksy swing states, one a former political adversary turned Cabinet official, and one a former astronaut. Who will Kamala Harris, the Democratic contender for president, choose as her vice presidential choice?
Although Harris is meeting with the last six candidates on Saturday and Sunday, news of her choice for vice president might surface as early as this weekend. However, it is not anticipated until early next week. Beginning in Philadelphia on Tuesday, the Harris campaign has organized a swing state tour alongside her vice presidential candidate.
Harris hasn’t had the luxury of the protracted screening process that most campaigns carry out, having entered the race less than two weeks ago following President Joe Biden’s resignation. Even so, she’s probably considering the same things: who can support her in winning, who agrees with her, who she can get along with, and who is capable of taking over as president in an emergency.
One of the candidates under consideration, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, told CNN last week, “This is a decision that is not just a campaign decision.” “This is a decision that the whole country ends up being bound by.”
None of the possible selections are really close to Harris. Attorney General Eric Holder and his legal firm, Covington & Burling LLP, have been screening possible partners for Vice President Harris. White House reporters observed Holder entering Harris’ home on Saturday.
Harris is allegedly considering Buttigieg in addition to Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, Gov. J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, and Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky. Here is a summary of the people under consideration:
Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania
Similar to Harris, a former state attorney general, the 51-year-old Democrat ran against the campaign of former President Donald Trump in 2020 and prevailed when it contested the results.
Harris’s blue-collar appeal may benefit him in other must-win Rust Belt states like Wisconsin and Michigan. He represents what may be the pivotal swing state in deciding who wins the White House. Notably, he easily won the 2022 governor’s election in a state that Biden had won by 0.2 percentage points just two years prior.
Shapiro endorses a two-state solution and asserts that Israel has the right to exist and defend itself, much like all of Kamala Harris’s possible vice presidential choices, but he is the only one who has been singled out for this position. Not only that, but he is the sole Jewish candidate. He would be the first Jewish vice president in American history if chosen and the team wins.
Shapiro is difficult to sell to leftists and teachers’ unions because of his support for school vouchers. His handling of allegations of sexual harassment against an assistant has also drawn criticism.
Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation
Buttigieg, a well-known policy wonk, is arguably the most well-known candidate. He is also the youngest, at forty-two. During his four years in Biden’s Cabinet, Buttigieg oversaw the implementation of the historic transportation spending law and handled many national transportation emergencies.
During his unsuccessful 2020 presidential campaign, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, positioned himself as a straightforward Democrat who could converse with Republicans. Surprisingly, he won in Iowa and performed admirably with Democrats of the white working class.
He would be the most obvious surrogate for Biden on the Democratic ticket, having served as a Cabinet officer for a long time.
Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona
Astronaut and fighter pilot. It looks like a political CV from a motion picture. Kelly has demonstrated his popularity in Arizona with two victories, a state that might be crucial this year. In 2020, Biden prevailed there by less than 11,000 votes.
One of the main areas of attack that the Trump campaign has been using against Harris might be sidestepped since Kelly, 60, is a border state representative and leans conservative on immigration and border security. He also worries about one of Harris’s main concerns, which is gun violence. He is married to former Democratic Representative Gabby Giffords, who is able to relate her moving account of escaping a bullet wound to the head sustained during the Tucson mass massacre in 2011.
Although there was just a two-week period in the Senate between Harris’ inauguration and Kelly’s appointment as vice president, Harris’s connections on Capitol Hill provide something that no other contender can match.
Harris’ decision-making may also take into account the possibility that his choice for vice president may flip the Senate’s balance of power. In the near term, Arizona’s Democratic governor would choose a Democratic successor; but, to complete the remaining years of his tenure, a special election would need to be held in 2026.
Labor organizations have urged Harris against selecting Kelly, citing his stance against laws that they claim would facilitate unionization.
Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz
Walz, 60, is a former high school teacher and football coach who served in the Army National Guard. Prior to his inauguration as governor in 2019, he served as a congressional representative for a district in southern Minnesota for around fifteen years. It’s said that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, is quietly supporting him.
It’s possible that Walz unintentionally ignited the internet movement to characterize Trump and his choice of vice president, JD Vance, as “weird.”
Harris could find him appealing because he is the only contender with prior experience in both the legislative and executive branches. Like Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 vice nominee, Walz exudes a Midwest dad feel while filming silly videos with his daughter Hope. However, Walz does not truly reside in any of the swing states that Harris needs to win.
Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois
Though it seems doubtful that she needs it, billionaire JB Pritzker, the heir of the Hyatt Hotel company, leans farther left than Harris, which might help shore her up with progressives.
Reproductive freedom concerns are crucial to the Democratic Party’s 2024 plan, and he has lead on them. His political advocacy group, Think Big America, has contributed to the push for state legislatures to consider and approve proposed constitutional amendments that would guarantee abortion rights.
In a letter last week, prominent Chicagoland business leaders urged Harris to choose him, pointing to his track record of generating employment and collaborating across partisan divides.
He won’t assist Harris in receiving any electoral votes because Illinois is not a battleground state.
Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky
Harris would find it easier to win over independents and conservatives who are uneasy with Trump as the candidate if he is the Democratic governor of a red state for two terms. In a state that Trump won by 26 percentage points in 2020, he was re-elected last year.
Kentucky, like Minnesota, Illinois, and Indiana, is not anticipated to be in play in 2024. In principle, though, Harris might get assistance from a southern governor in states like Georgia.
What Comes Next?
Every contender has distinct advantages and difficulties for Kamala Harris to consider as she reduces her options. As she gets ready to challenge the Republican nominee in the next election, the choice will be critical to her campaign. The Democratic ticket’s narrative and tactics will be greatly influenced by the vice presidential nominee that is selected.
Harris’ decision is anticipated to be made public early the next week, as the campaign prepares for a Tuesday tour stop in Philadelphia. The whole country is eager to see who will support her and assist lead the campaign to victory in November.
