On the first full day of the new 2024 presidential race, it quickly became apparent that Vice President Kamala Harris was likely to be the Democratic nominee. It was equally evident that she’d need a running mate — and she wouldn’t have much time to find one.
With this in mind, multiple news organizations confirmed that former attorney general Eric Holder and his law firm would oversee an intense vetting process
And who, pray tell, will they be vetting? The answer is just now starting to come into focus. NBC News reported that the Harris campaign has requested vetting materials from five potential vice presidential contenders, according to two sources familiar with the list (in alphabetical order):
- North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper
- Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly
- Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
- Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
It’s worth emphasizing that this shouldn’t necessarily be seen as an exhaustive list. We know from previous election cycles that some who make short lists like these fall out of favor, while others are sometimes added to the list as the process unfolds. The eventual Democratic vice presidential nominee might very well come from this quintet, but there are no guarantees.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, for example, has been rumored to be in contention for the job, though he’s not on this list. That doesn’t mean, however, that he’s out of the running.
As for the list itself, these are, by any fair measure, five strong contenders. Shapiro claims he hasn’t been contacted as part of the running-mate search, but the Pennsylvania Democrat is nevertheless a popular governor in a key battleground state, who also happens to have a background as a prosecutor who took on the Trump administration.
Cooper and Whitmer are also popular governors from battleground states, and while the latter suggested that she’s not interested in serving as her party’s vice presidential nominee, perspectives change when opportunities are no longer abstractions.
Kelly, the only senator on the list (so far), has an impressive background in the military, and is a former astronaut. What’s more, while Democrats would hate to see Kelly leave the Senate, Arizona has a Democratic governor who’d appoint his successor and keep the seat “blue.” Walz’s inclusion on the list might seem surprising to some, but I’d recommend keeping a close eye on the Minnesotan. He’s an excellent speaker, a successful governor in a Midwestern state, a former well liked congressman, and perhaps most importantly, Walz is a decorated military veteran. As the process advances, spare a thought for the researchers who have a daunting and expedited task ahead of them. Politico reported that delegates to the Democratic convention could begin voting on the party’s presidential and vice presidential nominees as early as next week. The report added, “Such a timeline, if it were implemented, could result in Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden’s endorsed successor, selecting her running mate by the middle of next week.” Watch this space.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
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