These are the potential deputies for Kamala Harris
*President Joe Biden's decision to give up his re-election bid and support Vice President Kamala Harris raises an important and immediate decision for Harris: Who should she choose as her running mate?
Andy Beshear
The democratic governor of Kentucky looks back on a successful political career in a strongly republican-leaning federal state that voted for Republican Donald Trump with over 25 percentage points in 2020. Beshear has advocated for bringing jobs to Kentucky, promoting public education, and improving healthcare access. As governor, he vetoed bills that banned abortions and gender-affirming surgeries for transgender youth, despite being overruled by the republican-dominated legislature.
Pete Buttigieg
The US Transportation Secretary built a strong following among Democratic voters during the primary campaign in 2020 against Biden and Harris. Buttigieg, who is seen as a skilled advocate for Biden's policies, supported him subsequently and was appointed to the new administration's cabinet in 2021. The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, also has close ties to Michigan, a crucial state for the Democrats in November.
Roy Cooper
The governor of North Carolina is praised by Democrats for his strong focus on economic development and his ability to achieve relatively high approval ratings in a politically contested, republican-leaning state. North Carolina went to Trump in both 2016 and 2020.
Mark Kelly
The US Senator from Arizona is respected by the Democratic party elite because he strikes moderate tones in a traditionally more republican-leaning state that Biden won in 2020. Kelly, a former captain of the US Marine and astronaut, is also the husband of former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was severely injured in an attack in 2011. Gun control is a significant campaign issue for the Democrats.
Josh Shapiro
The governor of Pennsylvania has only been in office for a year but is already a rising star in the Democratic Party on a national level. The trained lawyer was the Attorney General of the state and thus has a similar legal background to Harris as a prosecutor. Shapiro could help the Democrats win the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania. Currently, in polls, Trump leads there with several percentage points.
J.B. Pritzker
The billionaire and governor of the strongly democratic Illinois state proved to be an important force within the party. Pritzker, whose family owns the Hyatt Hotels chain, used his own financial resources to support Biden's campaign. He declared in the aftermath of Biden's withdrawal that he would support Harris.
Gretchen Whitmer*
Monday: Monatag
Tuesday: Dienstag
Wednesday: Mittwoch
Thursday: Donnerstag
Friday: Freitag
Saturday: Samstag
Sunday: Sonntag**
The governor has built a strong base in the fiercely contested state of Michigan and focuses on everyday issues. She was considered a potential vice candidate for 2020 before Biden chose Harris. Whitmer is one of Biden's most prominent supporters in his re-election campaign. According to media reports, she will not run as a candidate for the US Presidential Election after Biden's withdrawal. She was considered a potential backup candidate for Biden. A ticket with Harris would be the first all-female duo of a major US party. Experts see an advantage in this, as women's rights, particularly reproductive rights, are among the key issues of the upcoming elections.
In the upcoming United States Presidential Election 2024, if Vice President Kamala Harris decides to run with a new running mate, former Governor Andy Beshear's ability to gain support in a heavily Republican-leaning state like Kentucky could be a valuable asset for the Democrats. During his tenure, Beshear advocated for policies beneficial to his state, such as job creation, education, and healthcare access, while defying Republican legislatures on issues like abortion and transgender youth rights.
Given the importance of states like Michigan in Presidential elections, Gretchen Whitmer, the popular and influential Governor of Michigan, who already strongly supports Biden, could potentially become an attractive running mate option for Vice President Harris in the 2024 United States Presidential Election. Whitmer, known for championing everyday issues, was considered a potential running mate in 2020 and holds a prominent position in Biden's re-election campaign, making her a potential boon for the Democrats due to women's rights and reproductive rights being key issues in the upcoming electoral landscape.
