Immediately after President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he was withdrawing from the presidential race, attention turned to his successor, Vice President Kamala Harris.
Now that she has secured Biden’s endorsement, Harris is likely considering who she would like to replace her as running mate.
Live updates: Joe Biden withdraws from 2024 election amid growing pressure from Democratic Party officials
While the list of candidates is currently unknown, there has been much speculation in recent days about who might be considered as Harris’ potential running mate, with various pundits, journalists and political activists, in no particular order, listing a number of possible candidates.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Whitmer, 52, who has become one of the party’s leading figures in recent years, is also being considered as a possible candidate. She has served as governor of Michigan since 2019, which is considered a key battleground state for the White House this year. She served as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives from 2001 to 2006 and a member of the Michigan Senate from 2006 to 2015.
The Harris-Whitmer pairing will be the first all-female pairing in history.
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper
Cooper, 67, is in his second term as governor and gained national attention for opposing a bill that would have banned transgender people from using public restrooms that matched their gender identity.
of The New York Times Cooper is reportedly Harris’ “new favorite,” and Harris has spoken publicly about her good relationship with the governor.
In a statement Sunday, Cooper thanked Biden for his service and said he was “deeply grateful to call President Joe Biden a friend.”
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro
Shapiro, 51, was sworn in as Pennsylvania’s governor in 2023. He previously served as the state’s attorney general from 2017 to 2023.
on sunday X Statement(formerly Twitter) reacted to Biden’s announcement, joining the chorus of Democrats praising the president while having little to say about Harris.
“I am proud to serve alongside him and grateful for his leadership and unwavering commitment to serving Pennsylvania, the state that raised him,” he said.
California Governor Gavin Newsom
The California governor, 56, has become one of the most prominent Democrats in recent years, currently in his second term leading his state. He has been one of Biden’s most vocal supporters, served as a campaign surrogate and even hosted a televised gubernatorial debate with Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis.
Harris, a former mayor of San Francisco, has also garnered support on abortion rights, an issue that has been a mainstay of her campaign for Biden in recent months and is expected to continue in the presidential election.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
At 46, Beshear is one of the youngest people in the running to be Harris’ running mate. He served as Kentucky’s attorney general from 2016 to 2019 and is in his second term as governor.
The Democrat has remained a vocal supporter of Biden, telling the Courier Journal that he would only consider putting his name on the presidential tally if he could “further help the state through other opportunities.”
Since January, Governor Beshear has launched a political action committee (PAC) to support Democrats in Republican and Democratic states, while also traveling to at least five Democratic fundraisers outside the state.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker
J.B. Pritzker, 59, a billionaire known for donating millions of dollars to Democrats over the years and who has served as Illinois governor since 2019, is also being considered as a possible candidate.
Pritzker has been widely reported to have personally lobbied Biden on behalf of Chicago to secure the right to host the Democratic National Convention.
Other candidates
Pete Buttigieg, the 42-year-old current U.S. Secretary of Transportation and a former Navy officer, has also been mentioned as a possible candidate. The 2020 Democratic nomination race saw Buttigieg rise to prominence, along with Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Maryland Governor Wes Moore.
Kathryn Palmer is an elections fellow at USA TODAY. Contact her at kapalmer@gannett.com and follow her at X @KathrynPlmr.
