Candidates in the race for a position next to Trump
Who will be running as Vice Presidential candidate next to Donald Trump in the November election? Trump is expected to give an answer to this question either before or at the latest during the Republican National Convention, which takes place from July 15-18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The four-day grand event, which begins on a Monday, is where Trump and his running mate are expected to be officially declared the candidate duo. It's not entirely ruled out that Trump might surprise us with someone whose name has not yet appeared on the radar. Here's an overview of some potential candidates.
Marco Rubio
Marco Rubio, who is 53 years old, has represented the state of Florida in the US Senate since 2011. In 2016, he unsuccessfully sought the Republican Party's presidential nomination. At that time, Trump and Rubio clashed during the Republican Party primaries. Trump nicknamed him "little Marco," and Rubio retaliated by mocking Trump's hand size. Rubio lost and eventually became one of Trump's supporters.
Rubio has been considered a strong contender for the vice presidency lately. Born in Miami, the son of Cuban immigrants, he could help Trump win over Hispanic voters in particularly contested states. As a leading Republican in the Senate Intelligence Committee, he also brings foreign policy expertise.
Doug Burgum
Doug Burgum, like Rubio, has recently transformed from a Trump critic to a crucial Trump supporter: The 67-year-old governor of North Dakota ran for president himself in 2024, positioning himself as a potential challenger to Trump. However, Burgum quickly withdrew his candidacy and became a loyal Trump ally instead. People close to Trump report that they appreciate Burgum's background as a successful software entrepreneur and consider him reliable. Burgum founded a software company in 1997 and sold it to Microsoft in 2001 for a billion dollars.
Overall, Burgum remains relatively unknown and does not directly help Trump win over a contested "swing state" due to his home state's Republican leanings. North Dakota is considered a stronghold for the Republican Party. Burgum has enacted one of the strictest abortion laws in the US. This stance does not entirely align with Trump's more lenient stance on the issue. However, it could appease conservative voters who feel Trump is too lax on this issue.
Tim Scott
Tim Scott, who is 58 years old, had originally considered running for president but abandoned his ambitions in November and joined Trump's ranks instead.
Strategically, Scott would make sense as a vice president from the perspective of many Trump advisors. They argue for selecting a Black or female running mate to attract more comparatively moderate voters. Scott is more reserved than Trump, which could function as a contrasting program. He is also known for being an effective fundraiser. Scott is the only Black senator in the Republican Party. He would be the first Black person the Republicans have ever sent to the White House.
J.D. Vance
What Rubio is for the Hispanic voter base, Scott could be for the Black voter base, and J.D. Vance could be for the working-class voter base. The 37-year-old author and venture capitalist from Ohio has gained attention for his book "Hillbilly Elegy," which provides insights into the struggles of the white working class in America. Vance has not officially announced his political intentions, but he has been mentioned as a potential vice presidential candidate.
Vance's background aligns with Trump's "America First" agenda and could help Trump win over working-class voters in key states. He could also provide a more polished image for Trump, who is often criticized for his brash style. Vance's inclusion on the ticket could help Trump broaden his appeal to a wider demographic.
J.D. Vance (age 39) is one of the Republican Party's promising future figures. He currently serves his first term as a Senator from Ohio. The Senator has only been on his post for one and a half years, with a six-year term. In 2016, his best-selling autobiography "Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and a Culture in Crisis," translated into German, made him known. In it, he describes a childhood marked by poverty.
Vance fought his way up, attended Yale University, and eventually became a financier. Once a sharp critic of Trump, whom he occasionally harshly criticized, Vance joined Trump's supporters in 2018. In 2022, he received Trump's endorsement in the Senate campaign. Vance could potentially be the standard-bearer of the MAGA Republicans in the crucial Senate.
Elise Stefanik (age 40)
As a top contender, Elise Stefanik could run for the Vice Presidential nomination. The 40-year-old representative from New York is a fervent Trump supporter and an up-and-coming politician in the Republican Party. She was one of the 147 congressmembers who voted against certifying Biden's presidential election victory on January 6, 2021. On that day, a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol.
Stefanik became known to a wider audience in December when she took on the presidents of three Ivy League universities regarding antisemitism during pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. As the only woman on the party's list, Stefanik could potentially convince reluctant voters to support Trump. Additionally, she brings experience working in the White House: She worked there directly after her Harvard graduation under President George W. Bush.
Byron Donalds (age 45)
Like Stefanik, Byron Donalds also voted against certifying Biden's election victory in the Congress on January 6, 2021.
At campaign rallies with Trump in Philadelphia and the New York Bronx, Donalds tried to convince black voters to support the former President. The 45-year-old representative from Florida comes from the Tea Party movement. In February, Trump announced that Donalds was on his list of potential vice-presidential candidates.
Tom Cotton (age 47)
Tom Cotton's name has been mentioned frequently in recent weeks: The 47-year-old Senator from Arkansas came close to getting the position of CIA Director in Trump's first term.
Cotton has military experience, having served in Iraq and Afghanistan as a soldier. The lawyer with a Harvard education is loyal to Trump and often appears on news programs. The war veteran would not only make a good vice president but could also fit well into the position of Defense Secretary.
Glenn Youngkin (age 57)
Another potential top candidate could be Glenn Youngkin: The 57-year-old Governor of Virginia is a politician who can reach moderate voters beyond Trump's base.
The Republicans are counting on Virginia, which has gone to the Democrats in recent presidential elections. If the state returns to the Republicans, it could be a decisive factor in a Trump victory.
In the U.S. Presidency Election 2024, many potential Vice Presidential candidates are being considered for running alongside Donald Trump, including J.D. Vance. Vance, a 39-year-old Senator from Ohio, can help Trump win over working-class voters with his background aligned with the "America First" agenda.
During the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Donald Trump is expected to officially announce his running mate, likely from among these candidates. It remains uncertain whether Trump will surprise us with an unexpected choice.
(In this context, 'surprise' implies a choice not yet mentioned as a potential candidate.)
