Now that Vice President Kamala Harris has secured the delegates necessary to become the Democrat nominee for president, speculation has turned to her possible choice of running mate.
The majority of potential Veeps are Democrat governors, no doubt as part of an effort to bolster Harris’ lack of executive experience and accomplishments.
One possible pick is Pennsylvania’s moderate governor, Democrat Josh Shapiro. The 51-year-old formerly served as Pennsylvania Attorney General before taking office in January 2023.
Pennsylvania is a must-win state for the Democrats in 2024 and Shapiro is very popular in the state, holding a higher approval rating among voters than both President Biden and Vice President Harris.
However, the choice of Shapiro could put Harris at odds with the far-left base of the Democrat Party, primarily because he is pro-Israel and Jewish.
Another chief executive being floated as running mate is Governor Gretchen Whitmer from another must-win state, Michigan. The 52-year-old Whitmer is more ideologically aligned with Vice President Harris, especially in her unfettered support for abortion on demand.
However, Governor Whitmer told a local news outlet last Monday that she would not accept the role as Harris’ running mate, saying that she was “proud” to be governor and would not leave Michigan.
The other Democrat governors considered contenders for the VP slot include California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
In addition to Democrat governors, Democrats have also floated as a possible Veep Arizona’s moderate senator, Mark Kelly. Like Shapiro and Whitmer, Kelly could help secure another much-needed battleground state for the Democrats in November.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has also been suggested as a possible choice. However, his tenure as Transportation Secretary has been less than stellar.
