VP Kamala Harris Picks Gov. Tim Walz As Her Running Mate

Updated August 6, 2024

• According to two sources close to the matter, Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate for the 2024 presidential election.

The clock is ticking for Vice President Kamala Harris as she prepares to announce her running mate. Harris is expected to choose her VP by Tuesday morning at the latest, after which the pair will rally in Philadelphia. 

Harris' team has kept the final stages of the process fairly concealed as she prepares to make her final decision. The list of possibilities is reasonably well-known, however, and includes Democrats seen as potential presidential candidates for 2028. Harris may be inclined to select someone from a battleground state to give her a boost in the polls or may choose a running mate who has traditional Democratic viewpoints. 

Here's a closer look at Harris' options.

Potential running mates

• Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky is a two-term Democrat from a notoriously Republican state. Beshear's first win in 2019 was considered a fluke, but when he easily won reelection in 2023, he emphasized the importance of working for the "common good." The governor prioritizes working with Republicans on legislation and often talks about his Christian faith. 
• Arizona's Sen. Mark Kelly, a Navy veteran and former astronaut, won a seat in the Senate in 2020. He's reputed to be a moderate Democrat—campaigning for stricter gun control and immigration laws—and has built a coalition of supporters among white women in the suburbs and young Latinx voters. Many believe that being a senator in Arizona could help him and Harris win the battleground state.
• Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania was elected in 2022 after serving as the state's attorney general. With a 60% approval rating, Shapiro is expected to give Harris a boost in Pennsylvania, which is a must-win state for the Democrat's campaign. He has built a reputation as a bipartisan politician and is known for having an ambitious attitude in his party. He has campaigned to protect against hate crimes for sexual orientation and gender identity, against Trump's claims of election fraud in 2020, and is a staunch supporter of Israel.
• Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, a former member of Congress, former educator, and veteran, is described as a commonsense choice for Harris. Walz, chair of the Democratic Governors Association, was a leading voice for LGBTQ+ rights and has delivered free school meals, abortion protections, gun restrictions, legal marijuana, and more for his state. The Minnesota governor captured the internet's attention in the past few weeks by calling Trump and his supporters "weird." Since then, the Democratic party has honed in on the word, using it as a campaign tactic to bring Trump down.

Less likely contenders

• On top of these four, several other names have been mentioned as potential running mates for Harris, although they seem less likely. These include Pete Buttigieg, Secretary of Transportation; Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland; Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois; and Gina Raimondo, Secretary of Commerce.

How do you feel about Harris' potential VP picks?

-Jamie Epstein

(Photo Credit: Flickr/Gage Skidmore)