Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, has reportedly narrowed her list of running mate candidates to three contenders.

According to Bloomberg, the list includes “three elected officials with nationwide appeal.”

  • Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
  • Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
  • Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz

Bloomberg reports:

Kevin Munoz, a spokesperson for the Harris campaign, said she “directed her team to begin the process of vetting potential running mates” but declined to elaborate on the search.

Harris is expected to make a selection by Aug. 7, in order to align with the party’s plan to virtually nominate a ticket by that date.

Picking a vice presidential candidate will cement the Democratic standard-bearers to take on Republican nominee Donald Trump and running mate JD Vance in the November election. Harris’ sidekick can serve as a force multiplier who can campaign and raise money on her behalf, while ideally complimenting her strengths and covering any vulnerabilities.

Most on Harris’ list are White, male politicians with centrist leanings who could help Harris appeal to swing-state voters, as well as business leaders and donors. They have a track record of attacking Trump and his firebrand style of politics. Walz has gained momentum with progressives, enough to vault himself into consideration, according to people familiar with the matter.

Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita said Wednesday that “reliable sources confirm” Kamala Harris will choose Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running mate.

However, these reports remain unconfirmed.

From PennLive:

Former Attorney General Eric Holder is leading the vetting process. Holder’s law firm, Covington & Burling LLP, has 12 to 15 files on candidates, according to one person familiar with the process, showing Harris initially cast a wide net.

Shapiro is a popular governor of arguably the most important swing state, and a skilled orator who has performed strongly in rural areas, a weakness for Democrats. Walz, a former teacher and Army National Guard member, could dash Trump’s hopes of making Minnesota competitive and mirror Vance’s Midwestern appeal.

Kelly’s state doubles as a battleground and border area, and he has broken with Biden on immigration issues. His wife, Gabrielle Giffords, is a former congresswoman who became a gun control activist after surviving an assassination attempt in 2011.

Harris also is looking at the Biden Cabinet for options. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are being vetted, the people said.

A Harris campaign official said she is evaluating potential picks based on shared political values, including on the economy and democracy, and their ability to act as a governing partner and lead the country, if necessary.

 

Join The Conversation. Leave a Comment.


We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.