Who will be Kamala Harris’ vice president?

WASHINGTON >> President Joe Biden’s decision to abandon his re-election bid over the weekend and endorse Vice President Kamala Harris as his successor as the Democratic nominee leaves Harris with a key, immediate decision: who to choose as her running mate.

Harris has hired the law firm of former Attorney General Eric Holder to vet potential candidates, sources told Reuters.

According to insiders in internal policy discussions, these are some of the key topics of conversation.

ANDY BESHEAR, GOVERNOR, KENTUCKY

Kentucky’s Democratic Governor Andy Beshear has built a successful political career in a state where the Republican Party holds the majority. In 2020, Republican Donald Trump voted by a margin of more than 25 percentage points.

Beshear has touted his record of bringing jobs to Kentucky, bolstering public education and expanding access to health care. As governor, he vetoed legislation banning abortions and gender-affirming care for transgender youth, though the vetoes were overridden by the Republican-dominated Legislature.

Beshear endorsed Harris on Monday, saying she could help the country “move on to something better” for America. Asked if he would consider the vice presidency, he told MSNBC he loved serving his state, but added: “The only way I would consider anything other than this job is if I believe I can move my people and this country forward.”

PETE BUTTIGIEG, US SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg built a strong following among Democratic Party voters when he ran against both Biden and Harris in 2020 primaries, winning the nation’s first caucus in Iowa.

Buttigieg is seen as a slick defender of Biden’s policies. He later endorsed Biden and was chosen to join the new administration’s cabinet in 2021. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, also has ties to Michigan, a key state for Democrats in November.

On Sunday, Buttigieg endorsed Harris’ candidacy, saying, “Harris is the right person now to take the torch, defeat Donald Trump and succeed Joe Biden … I will do everything I can to help her win.”

ROY COOPER, GOVERNOR, NORTH CAROLINA

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper has won praise from Democrats for his strong focus on economic development and his ability to achieve relatively high approval ratings in a politically competitive state that leans Republican and voted for Republican candidate Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2020.

“If you want a nominee who can put Donald Trump’s overturning of Roe front and center, if you want a nominee who has actually prosecuted criminals like Donald Trump, and if you want a nominee who can put Trump’s age and fitness front and center, Kamala Harris is the person,” Cooper told MSNBC on Monday, a day after he spoke to Harris and announced his support.

MARK KELLY, U.S. SENATOR, ARIZONA

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly is beloved among Democratic Party elites for his relatively moderate tone in a hotly contested state that traditionally favors Republicans but that Biden won in 2020. Kelly, a former U.S. Navy captain and astronaut, is also the husband of former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was seriously injured in a shooting in 2011. Gun violence has been a major campaign issue for Democrats.

“I can no longer trust that Vice President @KamalaHarris is the right person to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country into the future. She has my endorsement for the nomination, and Gabby and I will do everything in our power to elect her President of the United States,” Kelly wrote in an X post on Sunday, referring to his wife.

JOSH SHAPIRO, GOVERNOR, PENNSYLVANIA

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro only took office last year, but he’s already seen as a rising star for the party nationally. Shapiro trained as a lawyer and served as the state’s attorney general, a legal background similar to Harris’s as a prosecutor. He has a long history of winning elections against Republicans in a state that Democrats believe they must win to secure the November election.

According to a source familiar with the matter, Shapiro and Harris spoke on Sunday.

“I’ve known Kamala Harris for nearly two decades — we’ve both been prosecutors, we’ve both fought for the rule of law, we’ve both fought for the people and achieved results. Kamala Harris is a patriot who deserves our support,” he said in a statement on Sunday, adding that she would “perfect our union, protect democracy, and advance true freedom.”

J.B. PRITZKER, GOVERNOR, ILLINOIS

Billionaire Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proven to be a major force in the party, using his own financial resources tied to Hyatt Hotels to support Biden’s campaign and the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next month. While Illinois is heavily Democratic, neighboring Wisconsin is one of the biggest prizes in the 2024 election.

Pritzker endorsed Harris on Monday, saying the two had spoken and that he thought it was important for the US to elect a woman as president.

“Harris has proven at every point in her career that she has the skills, strength and character to lead this country and the vision to improve the lives of all Americans… she represents our party’s best chance to defeat Donald Trump,” he said.

TIM WALZ, GOVERNOR, MINNESOTA

Minnesota’s Democratic Governor Tim Walz would also bring a record of defeating Republicans in a Midwestern state to the presidency. Walz, a veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard, previously represented a large, rural, Republican-leaning district bordering the competitive state of Wisconsin in Congress.

“Thank you for the call, @KamalaHarris,” he said on social media Monday. “You have my full support.”

GRETCHEN WHITMER, GOVERNOR, MICHIGAN

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has built a strong base in the hotly contested state of Michigan with a platform of straight talk and kitchen-table issues. She caught Biden’s attention in 2020, when she was vetted as a possible running mate before Biden chose Harris. She has been a key supporter and spokesperson for Biden’s re-election bid.

A Harris-Whitmer candidate would be the first all-female candidate for a major U.S. political party. That would be a potential bonus in elections where women’s reproductive rights are a major issue, if such a combination could overcome any sexism.

Whitmer endorsed Harris in a message on X on Monday, saying she will serve as co-chair of Harris’ campaign. She told CBS affiliate WLNS that she would not accept the vice presidential job if it were offered to her, saying, “I’m not leaving Michigan.”

Harris will focus on lowering costs for Michigan voters, “restoring their freedoms, bringing back jobs and supply chains from overseas, and building an economy that works for working people,” Whitmer said in a separate statement.

“We can’t let Donald Trump anywhere near the White House. Let’s go!”