Kamala Harris will run against Donald Trump. Who could run alongside her? An overview.
After Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential election campaign, his Vice President Kamala Harris is the designated leading candidate. She will now begin the search for a suitable person at her side, a “running mate”.
The current standout Democratic governors are Gavin Newsom of California and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan. They are highly regarded, but also as possible candidates for the US presidency – if not in 2024, then in 2028.
At least Whitmer will not be part of a duo with Harris this year: she has stated several times in recent weeks that she is not available. It is also considered unlikely that the Californian Newsom will be chosen, if only because he, like Harris, is from California. These candidates are still in the race:
The governor of Pennsylvania is considered to be extremely popular in his state. In 2022, he was able to prevail against a candidate supported by Donald Trump. He is considered a doer and was able to show how he can manage such situations during two major disasters. Like Harris, he is also a former attorney general. On Sunday evening, he spoke out: “I will do everything I can to help make Kamala Harris the 47th President of the United States.” Since Pennsylvania could become one of the most contested states in the presidential election, Harris would probably have a better chance of winning with the popular Shapiro.
The governor of Kentucky has made a name for himself among the Democrats because he managed to bring them to power in the southeastern, traditionally Republican state. The 46-year-old is considered a mediator and even brought Joe Biden and then Republican leader Mitch McConnell together for a photo opportunity. If he goes to Washington, it would be a loss for the Democrats in Kentucky. It is also unclear whether he is well-known enough to run for president.
The governor of Minnesota could reach an important group of Democrats who the Republicans are also trying to reach: the black population. The 60-year-old was in office when George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis and the “Black Lives Matter” protests later broke out. But his political opponent could use that against him and accuse him of not doing enough to combat crime.
The US Secretary of Transportation was able to build a strong following among Democratic voters in the 2020 primary campaign against Biden and Harris and won the Iowa primary. Buttigieg, who is considered a skilled advocate of Biden’s policies, subsequently endorsed Biden and was appointed to the new administration’s cabinet in 2021. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, also has close ties to Michigan, a key state for Democrats in November.
The U.S. Senator from Arizona is valued by the Democratic Party elite for his relatively moderate tone in a contested, traditionally Republican state that Biden won in 2020. Kelly, a former U.S. Navy captain and astronaut, is also the husband of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was seriously injured in an assassination attempt in 2011. Gun violence is a key campaign issue for Democrats.
