Democrats are pushing for their favorite colleagues and friends to be considered as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mates.
Harris is reportedly close to choosing a vice president and could hit the campaign trail with her second-in-command at her side as early as next week.
After quickly gaining the full support of the Democratic Party following President Joe Biden’s monumental exit from reelection just over a week ago, she began evaluating potential options for the No. 2 spot.
Leading contenders believed to be in the running include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Michigan Sen. Gary Peters, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Despite their differences, all are white and male, and offer distinct advantages to Harris’ campaign in several must-win states for Democrats.
US Vice President Kamala Harris gestures during a campaign rally in Wisconsin. Reports indicate she will campaign next week with her yet-to-be-announced running mate.
Beshear, Shapiro and Walz bring high-level executive experience to the role and have strong name recognition in their critical swing states of Kentucky, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.
Kelly is a well-known former astronaut from Arizona who has experience in the Senate after being elected in 2020.
Democrats need to win those states if they have any hope of capturing the White House and elections to lower offices.
The decision on who will join Harris on the ticket is expected to be made in the coming days as she plans to campaign with her running mate next week, sources told CNN. Reuters on Tuesday.
Now, Democrats are revealing to DailyMail.com who they want to see at the top of the ticket alongside Kamala.
“Both Kelly and Peters would be fantastic,” Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who was once Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential pick in 2016, told DailyMail.com.
Kaine went on to say that Harris has a multitude of great options, but she will have to focus on the one she feels she has “chemistry” with and can “secure support in the battleground states.”
“First of all, it’s their decision, but obviously I have a favorite,” Pennsylvania Democratic Senator Bob Casey told DailyMail.com. “Both our governor and our good friend, Governor Josh Shapiro.”
However, her colleague, Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth, had a different idea.
“Obviously, my governor JB Pritzker would be great,” she said. “He changed our state.”
Although Illinois Gov. Pritzker was her first choice, Duckworth also mentioned another name.
“I also think Tim Walz would be really good,” she told DailyMail.com, adding that the two spent time together in the House and that Walz, like her, is a veteran, which she says “would be really helpful for a new commander in chief.”
The senators on the shortlist did not reveal who they think Harris should select.
Both Democratic senators are reportedly in the running for Kamala Harris’ vice presidential pick.
“That’s a good question,” Arizona said. Senator Mark Kelly, one of the most talked-about Democrats in the race for his running mate, told DailyMail.com.‘I think there are a lot of really good options out there, like many others.’
Senator Gary Peters, Democrat of Michigan, who is also suspected of being in the vice presidential race, also did not respond to DailyMail.com.
“He has a lot of great people to choose from,” he said. “He’ll follow his process and I’m sure whoever he likes will make a great vice president.”
When pressed on whether he wanted the job after reports indicated Harris was considering him as a possible running mate, he again ignored the question.
“We have to respect his process. He has a lot of people to look at. We’ll allow him to look at people and make the right decision.”
Notably, all of the potential running mates Harris is reportedly considering are white men.
Montana Democratic Sen. John Tester, who is in a tough reelection campaign and risks being bogged down by his affiliation with the Biden administration, stayed out of the vice presidential speculation.
“That’s a decision that’s up to someone other than me,” Tester said of Harris’s choice for vice president.
Colorado Democratic Sen. John Hickenlooper said, “Governor (Jared) Polis in Colorado, I mean (Commerce Secretary) Gina Raimondo, (Transportation Secretary) Pete Buttigieg, there’s a lot of talent out there.”
“But I’m a big fan of Mark Kelly,” he acknowledged. “I think he’s the closest thing to a national hero we have.”
The Colorado senator said Kelly’s time in the military and his service as an astronaut set him apart from other contenders.
Hickenlooper added that Kelly reminds him of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who led the U.S. during World War II, and said he “has become known for making everyone around him better.”
Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Illinois Gov. JB Prtizker would be good choices for Harris’ running mate. But he said he prefers Mark Kelly, whom he called a national hero.
Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy told DailyMail.com he would not dare try to influence Harris’s choice for vice president.
“It would be the worst thing I could do if I were to give advice to Kamala Harris. She should choose whoever she thinks is the best fit for her and the best possible leader for the country.”
Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren simply said the vice president should “pick whoever she wants.”
A Michigan House Democrat, Rep. Shri Thanedar, expressed support for Peters and said he will back the senator after Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was ruled out.
“I’m endorsing Senator Gary Peters for Vice President,” Thanedar posted on X on Monday. “If not Gretchen, then Gary will be the next best thing.”
Across the aisle, Republican Sen. Josh Hawley also weighed in, saying he liked his Arizona colleague for the job.
Whoever is selected as Harris’ vice president will face former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
“I’m very impressed with Senator Kelly. I can understand why she’s looking at him. I hope she doesn’t pick him, let’s put it that way,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“He’s very smart,” Hawley continued. “And I think he obviously has an honorable record of serving this country in multiple different ways.”
Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn also did not suggest a running mate for Harris: “I’m just waiting and watching,” he told DailyMail.com.
