A group of progressive leaders is urging presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris to consider Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) or Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) as her running mate and rule out the Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) as they look to consolidate their base before November.
Close to 50 progressive leaders drawn from states ranging from California to Kentucky — including the creator of the coalition effort, California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus Chairman Emeritus Amar Shergill — signed a published letter on Tuesday, telling Harris that they “wholeheartedly” endorsed her campaign while noting that “it is difficult to overstate the importance of her decision in selecting a vice presidential running mate.”
“The right vice presidential candidate can build on the incredible momentum you have established or set us back, especially among young, hard-to-reach and disenfranchised voters,” the progressive leaders wrote in the letter, which was first shared with The Hill “With the compressed timeline we have ahead of us to defeat the Trump-Vance-MAGA threat, we simply cannot afford any setbacks.”
Progressives defended Walz and Beshear, saying the two are “persuasive defenders of fundamental democratic values and will energize voters across America without marginalizing any of the communities we must engage to win the electoral college.”
The letter noted, in particular, that they both “represent and connect” with rural areas and would be the “perfect candidates” to allow the party to bring these voters back into the fold in November.
At the same time, the progressive argued that although Shapiro is a “valuable member of the Democratic coalition”, he has failed to generate viral moments in the media in recent days and has made “controversial political decisions”, noting, for example, his support for school vouchers.
While Shapiro has indeed supported school vouchers, he also noted that it is “very important that we fully fund public education.” according to Spotlight PA. Governor’s office praised the “the largest increase in K-12 basic education funding in Pennsylvania history” in its 2023-2024 budget.
“Choosing Tim Walz or Andy Beshear as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate will reinvigorate the nation by bringing together all of our diverse communities, especially young voters, public education advocates, and the working class,” said the Progressive Caucus Chairman from the California Democratic Party in a statement by Fatima Iqbal-Zubair.
“Both governors have a proven track record of delivering results for communities that often feel left behind,” she continued. “By selecting Walz or Beshear, we can ensure that the Harris campaign continues its tremendous momentum, strengthening our coalition and ensuring a Democratic victory in November. This vice presidential selection represents a powerful step toward unifying and energizing the electorate.”
Harris’ campaign is in the midst of choosing her running mate as Democrats prepare for their national convention next month. Shapiro, Beshear and Walz are among those being considered, as well as others like Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).
Democrats hope to use the “veepstakes” as an opportunity to appeal to a broader tent of Democrats and other key voting blocs. An ABC News/Ipsos poll released this month showed Kelly considered the most favorable among other picks for vice president.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
