Who Should Kamala Harris Choose For A Running Mate?

With the news of President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race, all eyes are now on his potential successor, Vice President Kamala Harris, to carry the torch of unifying a fractured Democratic party. So far, many Democratic figures and members have rallied behind Harris, who could become the nation’s first Black/South Asian female president. Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Ilhan Omar, the Clintons, and many more have all come to the support of Harris. Earlier this month, NewsOne spoke exclusively with Lateefah Simon. Simon worked for Harris during the former’s tenure as San Francisco’s District Attorney. She is  currently running for Rep. Barbara Lee’s seat in Congress(Lee stepped down and endorsed Simon stepping in). But during that interview, Simon said that,

Kamala is a natural leader…[and]—I imagine that the most difficult thing for her to do was to so gracefully become a follower of the president’s agenda. That’s not to say she disagreed with it, but it’s to underscore that she’s spent her entire career developing agendas by engaging very closely and personally with the community. To sit back in order to best serve was a new way for her to be of service. Which in the end, is one of Kamala’s greatest strengths: to remain focused on providing meaningful public service rather than focusing solely on herself…

In a statement issued by Biden’s campaign, the Vice President said she was “…honored to have the president’s endorsement,” and that her “…intention is to earn and win this nomination.” The full statement can be found here, courtesy of Time. Kamala’s next moves could make or break her entire campaign.

According to BBC, Kamala Harris’ approval rating has been very similar to Biden’s, steadily declining since early 2021 and currently sitting around 40%. Regardless of poll numbers, most experts believe the 2024 presidential election will be an extremely close race.

Perhaps the biggest decision she has to make now is choosing a suitable running mate. Several outlets, including USA Today and Forbes, have predicted the “top picks” for the spot to unite the party and defeat Donald Trump in November.

Scroll down to take a look at some of the possible selections:

1. Gov. Roy Cooper (NC)

One of the top predictions for VP resides right here in the Tarheel State. Outgoing Governor Roy Cooper, who has been campaigning with Harris in NC this past week, is known as one of the very few Democratic politicians to win in a right-leaning battleground state. He also remains more popular than President Biden in the state, according to a recent Meredith Poll. Cooper has successfully steered the state through the pandemic and successfully fought against the Republican-controlled General Assembly over teacher pay, tax breaks for the wealthy and Medicaid expansion. Not only could Cooper flip NC blue, but he could also be a safe pick to connect all facets of the Democratic party. 

2. Gov. Josh Shapiro (PA)

Another top contender could be Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Like Harris, Shapiro previously served as his state’s attorney general before taking the gubernatorial seat in 2023. Considering his popularity as the governor of a vital swing state, Shapiro’s strong stance on reproductive rights and his reputation as a skilled negotiator could give him the edge with voters. 

3. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (MI)

The governor that many of her supporters dubbed “Big Gretch” could possibly make the first all-female presidential ticket in history. Serving as governor of Michigan (another battleground state) since 2019, she has had more than a few run-ins with Trump, including a lawsuit filed by his campaign and the Republican National Committee just last week over voter registration efforts at federal VA and SBA sites. Whitmer has held her own in the Democratic party, from her strict pandemic policies to her defense of abortion rights, which led to the passage of an amendment enshrining abortion in the state constitution. Needless to say, she is one that does not back down, which could be what the party needs. 

4. Gov. Gavin Newsom (CA)

This choice should come as no surprise, as Newsom has been one of the most prominent figures in the Democratic party for quite some time. He has been one of Biden’s most powerful surrogates who has been at the forefront to protect reproductive rights. He also has experience working alongside Harris since 2003, when Harris was elected as San Francisco’s DA and Newsom, as its Mayor. Perhaps his working experience with Harris could give him a leg up. 

5. Gov. Andy Beshear (KY)

Yet another anomaly in politics (Democratic governor in a notoriously-red state), 46-year-old Andy Beshear is one of the youngest to be considered for the VP spot. Beshear has managed to bridge the gap among voters, both as a former Attorney General and as governor. Since January, he has traveled to several Democratic fundraisers across the country and launched a PAC to support Democrats in red and purple states. 

6. Gov. J.B. Pritzker (IL)

Illinois’ Gov. J.B. Pritzker was another strong supporter of Biden during his campaign and, like the others on this list, have since moved his support to Harris. A top surrogate for Biden who stuck by him following last month’s disappointing debate, the billionaire governor had several highlights in his career. Among them: solidifying abortion rights laws in the state, banning assault weapons, stabilizing the state’s finances and championing green-energy initiatives. 

7. Other Candidates

Also featured on the short list of potential VP picks include Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (pictured), Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, current U.S. transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg, Minnesota Gov. Amy Klobuchar and Georgia Gov. Raphael Warnock. All of them definitely have the experience to possibly pull it off. However, their names have not been spoken as much as the others featured on the list. 

Regardless of who Harris selects, it’s no question that a fight for democracy is on the horizon.