Vice President Kamala Harris is considering a new generation of Democratic leaders as she prepares for the crucial decision of choosing her running mate.
The list of candidates is well known and includes figures widely seen as potential Democratic contenders for president in 2028. She is expected to choose a candidate before Democrats hold their nominating convention in Chicago on Aug. 19.
Ms. Harris, 59, may be inclined to lean on candidates in battleground states Democrats need to win against former President Donald J. Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance. She may also turn to male politicians to help balance the vote, Democratic aides said. But nothing is certain.
Let's look at some possible options.
Beshear is a two-term Democratic governor from overwhelmingly Republican Kentucky. When he first won in 2019, his victory was seen as a fluke, as Trump had won the state by about 30 percentage points three years earlier. But Beshear handily won reelection last year. He has emphasized the “public interest,” worked with Republicans on bills like legalizing medical marijuana, and often speaks about his Christian faith. That could be an especially appealing message for Democrats trying to win over moderate white suburban voters.
John Cherry of The New York Times
Cooper is the governor of what could be called a “swing-neighborhood” state at best. Barack Obama was the last Democratic presidential candidate to win there in 2008. Electing Cooper could make the state a hotspot, or at least force the Trump campaign to pour money into the state. Cooper was re-elected by 4 points in 2020, when Trump won the state by 1.3 percentage points. But he cannot run again because of term limits. And if Cooper is nominated, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a very conservative Republican running for governor, would become acting governor whenever Cooper leaves the state to campaign.
Tierney L. Cross, The New York Times
Sen. Kelly, a senator from Arizona, rose to national prominence after his wife, Rep. Gabby Giffords, survived an assassination attempt in 2011. A Navy veteran and former astronaut, Kelly began campaigning for stricter gun control and ultimately won his Senate seat in 2020. Kelly carved out an image of a moderate in Arizona, building a coalition that relied on suburban white women and young Latino voters who played a key role in leading the state to victory for Joe Biden in 2020.
Rod Lamkey Jr., The New York Times
Pritzker has been governor of Illinois since 2019. Illinois is not a battleground state, but he is a billionaire and can put his own money into his campaign. That's no small thing, since Trump has been inundated with financial support in recent months. Pritzker, who would be just the second Jewish man in history to be a major party vice presidential candidate if elected, has been garnering attention from Democrats by attacking Trump. “Do they really want a president who's a felon who's at risk of going to prison?” Pritzker said in June.
Jamie Kelter-Davis (The New York Times)
Shapiro was elected governor in 2022 after serving as the state's attorney general. Pennsylvania is a must-win state for his party, and Shapiro's overwhelming victory over Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano with 56% of the vote boosted his standing among Democrats. As anti-Israel demonstrations spread to college campuses this fall, Shapiro, who is Jewish, denounced the rise in anti-Semitism following Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7. He was also praised for overseeing the swift repairs after the collapse of a bridge on Interstate 95 last year. For Democrats, Shapiro's biggest appeal is the political strength he has shown in this important state, which is reflected in his impressive approval ratings.
Christopher Jay Bethel of The New York Times
Walz is a former congressman and former educator who has served as Minnesota's governor since 2019. As governor, he deployed the National Guard to Minneapolis to quell riots over the death of George Floyd in police custody. As a congressman, he was one of the few Democrats representing rural areas of the state, suggesting an attractive political appeal for Harris. Walz is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and also serves as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.
Eric Li/The New York Times
Unlikely candidates
Several other names have been floated since Biden dropped out of the running, including:
Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, will be the first openly gay person to be nominated for vice president.
Desiree Rios (The New York Times)
Moore was elected Maryland's first Black governor in 2022. He is an Army veteran, businessman and best-selling author.
Eric Li/The New York Times
Raimondo is a lawyer and former governor of Rhode Island who was nominated by Biden to be secretary of commerce in 2021.
Jam Sta Rosa/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images