Here’s Who Kamala Harris Could Pick for Vice President If She Wins the Nomination

Shortly after President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race on Sunday, speculation quickly arose about who his chosen replacement, Vice President Kamala Harris, would name as her running mate if she won the nomination.

Here are some possible candidates:

Shapiro was elected governor of a key swing state two years ago. Like Harris, he previously served as attorney general of his home state. Shapiro, 51, quickly endorsed Harris after Biden withdrew, noting that he has known her for nearly two decades.

Pennsylvania is seen as a must-win state for Democrats this election cycle. Shapiro proved his popularity in the state in 2022 when he defeated his Donald Trump-backed Republican rival by more than 14 points.

The second-term governor is drawing attention because he won three statewide races in a deep-red state, including one for attorney general, which would help in an election where crime will be a hot topic. His victories were narrow, with a five-percentage-point victory last year compared to less than one in 2019.

Beshear, 46, is also young by national standards and could appeal to the same rural residents that the Republican vice presidential nominee, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, 39, wants to address.

The 60-year-old former astronaut and war veteran is gaining attention after winning two campaigns in the swing state of Arizona. In 2022, Kelly defeated Blake Masters, who, like Vance, is a protégé of wealthy tech investor Peter Thiel.

Kelly brings other intangibles to the table that could help counter Republican attacks on Democrats as soft on crime. He is the son of two police officers and is married to former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was targeted in an assassination attempt in 2011. Kelly nursed Giffords, who is still partially paralyzed, back to health. Giffords now heads the national gun safety advocacy group Giffords and could provide a useful counterbalance to the Republican ticket, which has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association. If Kelly and Harris win, Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs would appoint a replacement, so Democrats wouldn’t have to worry about losing a Senate seat.

Like Beshear, Cooper has appeal because he served two terms as governor in a red state and is ending his term after this year. He could put North Carolina in play for the Democrats, since Biden lost the state in 2020 by just 1 percentage point, or about 75,000 votes. Then again, the last time a North Carolina native, Sen. John Edwards, was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2004, the Democrats lost the state by 12 percentage points.

But Cooper, 67, has won the governor’s race twice when Donald Trump was on the ballot, and won his home state. Cooper has a 36 percent approval rating among Republicans in North Carolina, not bad for a Democrat in a red state.

Born on a tobacco farm in North Carolina, his folksy charm could appeal to rural voters turning away from Democrats. He’s not well-known on the national stage, but Harris has known him for 20 years, as they served as attorneys general in their home states at the same time. Harris called him “a great leader” and “my best friend” when he campaigned in North Carolina this month.

There is a common wisdom that an all-women ticket would be a non-starter with the American electorate. Indeed, no woman has ever been elected president, and no woman had ever been elected vice president until Harris herself in 2020. But Whitmer, as a swing-state governor, could help deliver Michigan’s 15 electoral votes, which would be crucial to a Democratic victory. An all-women ticket could also send a particularly powerful message in favor of abortion rights, seen as the top winning issue for Democrats. Whitmer, 52, was reelected in 2022 with 54% of the vote.

Some have speculated that Newsom would make a good running mate, but the 56-year-old would be an unlikely choice for Harris. The Constitution contains a provision that prohibits Electoral College electors from casting their votes for president and vice president from the same state. Dick Cheney circumvented that provision by transferring his voter registration from Texas to Wyoming in 2000 so he could run alongside fellow Republican George W. Bush. But even beyond the technicality, Harris would likely not choose a running mate from California for political reasons. Harris’ Golden State roots have proven to be one of Republicans’ biggest arguments against her, as they try to tie her reputation to rising homelessness and concerns about crime in her home state. Choosing Newsom as her running mate would reinforce that criticism.

Reach Sophia Bollag: [email protected]; Twitter: @SophiaBollag. Reach Joe Garofoli: [email protected]; Twitter: @joegarofoli