Harris’ Top Potential Running Mates: Pros and Cons

Vice President Harris and her campaign are evaluating a number of potential running mates as Democrats shift into general election mode with Harris at the helm.

While Harris has managed to greatly excite the Democratic base and seemingly close the gap with Trump in the three days since President Biden dropped out of the race, she will need to choose a running mate who complements her on the party ticket.

Harris has a long list of national Democrats to choose from and has sent vetting materials to a number of Democratic governors, a senator and two Biden administration officials.

The Democratic National Committee expects Harris to choose a running mate by Aug. 7.

Here are the pros and cons of Harris’ top potential running mates:

Andy Beshear

Pros

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) is something of a political unicorn, winning elections and re-elections in a deep red state. Beshear’s statewide victories in the state underscore his ability to attract voters outside the Democratic fold, especially in rural areas.

“The idea of ​​him winning such a red state, I think also gives Democrats a lot of comfort when they’re talking about how to secure victory in the suburbs. [and] trying to bring some of the white working class back into our column,” said Democratic strategist Jon Reinish.

And while Beshear has clearly managed to attract moderate voters and even some conservatives, the governor has enacted a number of policies popular with Democrats. He expanded health services in the state and received praise from activists for restoring voting rights to 180,000 people who had been convicted of crimes.

Cons

But strategists say Beshear would have a lot of work to do to build his national name identification. Additionally, some point out that his connection to his father, former Kentucky governor Steve Beshear (D), might have given him an advantage in Kentucky, but may not have the same impact nationally.

“You already have to reintroduce Kamala, and now you have to introduce someone no one has ever heard of,” said one Democratic strategist.

Roy Cooper

Pros

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s (D) close relationship with Harris has contributed to speculation that he is being considered as her running mate, with both Democrats serving as attorneys general for their respective states at the same time.

“My understanding is that Harris and Cooper are very close,” said Mike Nellis, a former senior adviser to Harris. “She really likes him, from what I know.”

Cooper could help Harris emphasize the contrast she is trying to draw with Trump as she leans into her history as a prosecutor running against a former president convicted of crimes.

Cooper also has experience winning as a Democrat in what was considered a red-leaning state. But as governor, he enacted policies popular among the political left, including the expansion of Medicaid and the repeal of HB 2, better known as the “bathroom law,” which required people to use bathrooms that matched their sex given at birth while in government facilities.

Cons

But if Cooper were to leave the state to campaign across the country, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) would become acting governor, per the North Carolina Constitution. Some Democrats say that concerns them, given the ultra-conservative background of Robinson, who is running for governor.

“I’m sure that’s something they’re carefully evaluating as well,” Reinish said.

Marco Kelly

Pros

Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly (D) quickly became one of the top names considered for Harris’ running mate. Democrats point to his compelling story as an astronaut and Navy pilot. Kelly is also married to former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.), who was shot during an event with constituents in 2011. Since then, Kelly and Giffords have been vocal advocates for gun control, an issue that has galvanized key constituents .

Democrats also point to Kelly’s electoral success in Arizona, winning state elections in the swing state in 2020 and 2022; the Grand Canyon State is expected to be a critical state in November. Harris’ campaign said that in addition to the Blue Wall states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, it hopes to focus on Sun Belt states, including Arizona.

“There is plenty of evidence that Harris’ best path to victory is not through the Midwest, but rather through the Sun Belt,” Nellis said. “I think Kelly plays really well there.”

Kelly’s supporters note that he could provide a strong defense against Republican attacks on Harris and Democrats over the handling of the southern border. While critics have pointed out Harris’ weakness on this issue, Kelly has long called for more resources to be mobilized to Arizona to deal with the influx of migrants crossing the border.

Cons

But choosing Kelly also carries risks for Senate Democrats. If he were elected vice president, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) would have to nominate Kelly’s replacement. That nominee would have to run in a special election to serve out the remainder of Kelly’s term, which is what Kelly did in 2020. That would leave Arizona with Senate races every even year until 2030.

Kelly could also have some problems with the labor movement, an important voting bloc for Democrats. Kelly did not support the PRO Act, which would make it easier to form unions and enter into labor contracts.

However, Kelly said Wednesday that he would support the PRO Act if it reached the Senate floor today.

Josh Shapiro

Pros

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) became a national name in 2022 when he won the governorship in an election year that was predicted to see a national red wave for Republicans.

Pennsylvania’s then-Attorney General easily defeated State Senator Doug Mastriano (R) by nearly 15 points. Throughout his campaign, Shapiro not only made a concerted effort to campaign in Pennsylvania’s traditional urban and suburban Democratic strongholds, but also worked to appeal to the state’s rural communities.

“He beat the final MAGA candidate,” Reinish said. “He knows what it takes to combat extremism. He knows what it takes to bring in a lot of people and fight a MAGA extremist.”

The race marked Shapiro’s third statewide race in the must-win presidential state, which has 20 Electoral College votes. Democrats and even several Republicans have praised Shapiro as being politically savvy and charismatic. As governor, Shapiro was forced to respond to a series of crises, including the train derailment in neighboring East Palestine, Ohio; the collapse of the I-95 bridge; and, most recently, the assassination attempt on former President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Cons

However, Shapiro is still relatively new to the national scene, having only been governor for two years. Critics point to Shapiro’s decision to support a GOP-led effort to deliver $100 million in school vouchers to families for private school tuition, a position the governor would later backtrack on.

Additionally, some question whether Shapiro’s staunch support for Israel during the Israel-Hamas war could alienate progressive voters, many of whom threatened to stay home when Biden was at the top of the ticket due to the president’s pro-Israel stance.

But others say Shapiro, like Harris, would be a historic choice as he would be the first Jewish vice president if elected.

“Especially when the Jewish community has gone through such a terrible time since October 7th, with the rise of anti-Semitism, the rise of extremism, the idea of ​​having someone Jewish, one of our own, at the top of the list would just be an extraordinary milestone. ,” Reinish said.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story