US Presidential Election 2024: Kamala Harris’ Potential Running Mates – Who Will Seal the Deal? – World News

US President Joe Biden previously announced his decision to withdraw from the race for the upcoming presidential election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee. Moments after his announcement, wild speculation began about who Harris would be his running mate, with some Democrats floating around the names of their choices.

So far, Harris has only said she is running for president, but she has not yet said who her running mate would be.

Before Harris’ running mate is announced, let’s take a look at some of the front-runners.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear

According to Politico, the 46-year-old Beshear is one of the front-runners. He comes from Kentucky’s political royalty, having been elected governor in 2019 and re-elected last November.

After Biden’s announcement, he wrote on X: “While his decision today cannot have been easy, it is in the best interests of our country and our party. I want to thank him for his leadership, his kindness, and for a successful presidency that accomplished big, important things.”

Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona

Next up is Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona. The 60-year-old has been a senator since 2020 and is a former NASA astronaut and Navy fighter pilot. Four years ago, he defeated Republican incumbent Martha McSally in the special election for the seat formerly held by former Senator John McCain, becoming the first Democrat to hold the seat since 1962. He was easily re-elected two years later.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Gretchen Whitmer, 52, has been Michigan’s governor since 2019. Before that, she served in both the Michigan House of Representatives and the Michigan Senate. Her decisive victory in the 2022 gubernatorial race, where she won by nearly 11 points in a swing state, has positioned her as a potential successor in 2028.

California Governor Gavin Newsom

Three years Harris’ junior, Gavin Newsom, 56, was mayor of San Francisco when she was the city’s district attorney. They were both elected to statewide office in 2010, with her becoming attorney general and Newsom lieutenant governor.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro

Josh Shapiro, 51, has been governor since 2023. As a former attorney general, he opposed Trump‘s claims that the 2020 election was rigged. He enjoyed relatively strong support from Republicans compared to other Democrats in his 2022 race and continues to enjoy decent approval ratings across party lines, NBC News reported.