Since the announcement that current President Joe Biden decided to suspend his campaign for reelection, his current Vice President Kamala Harris has received an enormous amount of support, breaking fundraising records. With the Democratic National Convention being less than a month away, many are speculating who Harris will choose as her vice president.
On Tuesday, USA TODAY reported that Harris' presidential campaign requested vetting materials from seven Democrats in consideration to become her running mate. The list includes: North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and former Louisiana congressman Cedric Richmond.
Here's what to know about the top contenders:
Who is Roy Cooper?
The proud North Carolina native has served as governor of the state since 2017. Since he first entered politics in 1986, the 67-year-old lawyer has never lost an election. With this being is last term as Governor, he will officially leave office in January. Harris and Cooper have previously agreed on a variety of issues including access to abortion. In 2023, he vetoed SB20 which would have banned abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy. Republican lawmakers overrode Cooper's veto, restricting abortion in the state.
What to know about Mark Kelly
The Arizona senator, former Astronaut and former United States Navy captain is the only senator on the shortlist of contenders for vice president. Kelly was elected after winning the seat previously held by U.S. Senator John McCain. Many believe Kelly would be an excellent choice due to him representing a border state. Immigration has been a popular topic in previous debates and Kelly has previously spoken out in agreeance with President Biden about restricting asylum access.
Who is Joshua 'Josh' Shapiro?
Pennsylvania’s 48th governor, who is currently serving his first term, holds the seat of state that is a part of the “blue wall states.” As the state’s attorney general in 2017, Shapiro was a part the coalition that opposed Trump’s proposed travel ban on Muslim-majority countries. The series of cases made against Trump during his presidency helped to boost him into the spotlight and helped him get elected in 2023. Like Harris, he previously served as an attorney general. Although he hasn’t made any additional comments about joining Harris, Shapiro previously expressed that he supported both Harris and Biden during the upcoming election.
What to know Gretchen Whitmer
Nicknamed “Big Gretch” due to her response during COVID-19, Michigan’s governor Gretchen Whitmer has expressed continuously that she would not seek to become vice president. On July 22, in an interview with The Detriot News, Whitmer stated: "I am not leaving Michigan. I am proud to be the governor of Michigan. I have been consistent. I know everyone is always suspicious and asking this question over and over again. I am not going anywhere." She has announced that she will help co-chair Harris’s presidential campaign but has no other interest in joining her for the November election.
Who is Tim Walz?
While Minnesota’s 41st Governor has not said much regarding being a potential running mate for Harris, he has on numerous occasions defended both Harris and Biden on a variety of platforms. In a Fox News interview, Walz said “The Democratic Party can make our decisions, we pick our nominee. Look, if you don’t like it, don’t vote for her in November.” Walz and Harris align on a variety of issues including protecting reproductive freedoms. In 2023, Walz signed reproductive freedoms into law ensuring that all Minnesotans have rights and the ability to access the care they need.
What to know about JB Pritzker?
The California born, Illinois governor recently said in an MSNBC interview that “It’s important to me that we win across the board and all across the United States. So I’m gonna continue to do that. And I’m very interested in making sure that Kamala Harris becomes the next president of the United States.” While he hasn’t blatantly expressed if he is interested in running as vice president, Pritzker and Harris align on the importance of protecting reproductive freedoms. In 2023, Pritzker launched Think Big America which is focused on passing abortion rights ballot measures nationwide.
Who is Cedric Richmond?
The former Louisiana congressman is the only person of minority descent who has received vetting materials. According to USA TODAY, Richmond served as a top aide in the Biden White House. Like Harris, Richmond is also an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) alum having graduated from Morehouse College. In an earlier television interview with Fox News Channel 8 New Orleans , Richmond expressedthat he “plans on being very active in the vice president’s campaign and ensuring that we continue the historic progress that we made.”
Road to DNC: How much has Kamala Harris received in donations
Along with breaking history as becoming the first Black-American, South Asian-American or Woman or to become vice president in 2020, she has also become the first to secure enough support to become the Democratic nominee for President.
After Biden announced he wasn’t going to seek reelection, the organization Win with Black Women hosted a conference call, which at one point, had 40,000+ participants, to raise funds for her campaign. Over the course of three hours, they raised $1.5 million.
A day later, Win with Black Men organized another call which raised an additional $1.3 million. In less than 3 days, the Harris campaign has made history again, raising more than $100 million.
She has officially kicked off her presidential campaign in Wisconsin but will not officially be the Democratic presidential nominee until August 7 when the party confirms it.
