My pick for Kamala Harris's VP is... Tim Walz
Walz would make a good ticket balancing pick for Harris.
Now that Kamala Harris is our de facto nominee, she still needs to pick a running mate to complete the ticket. I mentioned in my previous post that my endorsement for Harris’s running mate will be on this entry.
Here are some of the picks under consideration: Roy Cooper, Andy Beshear, Mark Kelly, Gretchen Whitmer, Josh Shapiro, and Tim Walz.
Gov. Roy Cooper
Who is he? Cooper, 67, is the governor of North Carolina, a battleground state that Trump won narrowly in 2020 and 2016 that offers 16 electoral votes (of the 270 needed to win). He’s known for winning repeatedly statewide even as other Democratic candidates have struggled to do the same for roles like the Senate.
As governor, he’s also vetoed Republican bills on abortion and guns, and has strong approval ratings overall. Prior to becoming governor, he served as the state’s attorney general and in the state legislature.
What’s the case for him? Cooper could help improve Democrats’ chances in a battleground state, though it will still likely be an uphill battle given past contests in North Carolina. He’s also been pretty popular in his role, and has secured backing from some moderates and Republicans.
He previously collaborated with Harris while they each served as their states’ AG, meaning they have experience working alongside one another. And more recently, Harris and Cooper have campaigned together in the wake of Biden’s disastrous June debate, during which the governor cautioned against the return of “Donald Trump’s America.”
Gov. Josh Shapiro
Who is he? Shapiro, 51, is the governor of Pennsylvania, another likely battleground state (with 19 Electoral College votes), which Biden won in 2020 and which former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lost in 2016.
He was elected in 2022, the same year that freshman Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was elected to the Senate. Shapiro ran far ahead of Fetterman, winning 57 percent of the vote, to Fetterman’s 51 percent. Shapiro has established himself as a moderate who helped negotiate bipartisan deals when he was in the state legislature, and is also known for his work as attorney general, when he secured settlements for victims of sexual abuse by the Catholic Diocese. He’s also been a vocal supporter of Israel amid the country’s devastating military offensive in Gaza, following Hamas’ brutal October 7 attack.
What’s the case for him? Like Cooper, he’s the popular Democratic governor of a swing state and could help the party improve their chances there. He’s also seen as more of a centrist who could appeal to moderate voters and independents, though his staunch backing of Israel could turn away progressive Democrats.
Gov. Andy Beshear
Who is he? Beshear, 46, is the governor of Kentucky, and has won twice in a red state that previously overwhelmingly voted for Trump.
As governor, he’s been praised for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as multiple crises in the state, including a mass shooting at a bank and severe flooding. Prior to this role, he also served as Kentucky’s attorney general.
What’s the case for him? Beshear is the rare Democrat who has been able to win multiple times in a red state, and could offer additional appeal to some swing voters. In addition to the support he’s received for his leadership during various crises, he’s also touted infrastructure and private sector investment in the state during his tenure.
Unlike other possibilities, though, he probably wouldn’t increase Harris’s chances of winning his home state, which is solidly GOP.
[…]
Sen. Mark Kelly
Who is he? Kelly is the junior senator of Arizona — a swing state with 11 Electoral College votes — who was elected in 2020 by framing himself as a candidate willing to work across the aisle. Previously, Biden won Arizona in 2020, while Clinton lost the state in 2016. Kelly is also known for his career as an astronaut alongside his twin brother Scott Kelly, and as the husband of gun control advocate and former US Rep. Gabby Giffords.
What’s the case for him? Kelly has a higher profile than some of the other names on this list, and is respected both for his scientific expertise and contributions as an astronaut in addition to his time in the Senate. He’s been a prominent gun control advocate alongside Giffords and made pushing these policies a priority.
Given his efforts to appeal to both Republicans and independents in Arizona, he’d be another option who could help with trying to reach those voters. Arizona also continues to be an important battleground this time around, including in its Senate race.
[…]
Gov. J.B. Pritzker
Who is he? J.B. Pritzker, 59, is the governor of Illinois, a Democratic state that Biden and Clinton both won in 2020 and 2016. Before becoming governor, he was a businessman and philanthropist, and is a scion of the family behind Hyatt hotels, who’ve also been consistent and influential Democratic donors.
As governor, Pritzker has established a modest national profile, including remarks he’s given attacking Trump and calls he’s made for more federal resources to address immigration in Illinois.
What’s the case for him? Pritzker has already built some name recognition as a fixture on cable news, and has proven to be a vocal Trump antagonist. Pritzker’s personal wealth could also potentially be a boon to the campaign, though his own state is not a battleground that would expand the Democratic map.
[…]
Gov. Tim Walz
Who is he? Walz, 60, is in his second term as governor of Minnesota. A former high school teacher, he’s been in politics for decades, having started as a member of Congress in 2007. He received national attention for leading his party through a 2023 legislative session that saw Democrats in the state achieve a litany of long-held ambitions, including on police reform, boosting education funding, marijuana legalization, abortion protections, child tax credits, and more.
What’s the case for him? Walz is the well-liked leader of a purplish state with a record of advancing Democratic priorities through his state legislature and with strong ties to organized labor. A Midwesterner, Walz could prove to be a useful surrogate for shoring up support in his own state, as well as ones like Michigan and Wisconsin. And like many of the other potential vice president picks on this list, he’s already proved to be a strong Harris surrogate on television news.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Who is she? Whitmer, 52, is the governor of Michigan, a key swing state with 15 Electoral College votes that Biden won in 2020 and that Clinton lost in 2016.
She’s been a popular leader in this role, and was initially known for how much she emphasized infrastructure and “fixing the damn roads.” Since then she’s been an outspoken advocate for abortion rights, and for gender equity, speaking openly about how she was sexually assaulted in college. Prior to being governor, Whitmer was a member of the state legislature and the first woman to become the Democratic leader of the state Senate.
What’s the case for her? She’s among the members of the list who have strong and positive national recognition, and who could help raise Democrats’ chances in a pivotal swing state. Whitmer has also focused on issues including infrastructure and health care, which could broaden Democrats’ appeal to moderate voters. And if Harris and Whitmer were on the same ticket, they would form a groundbreaking all-woman ticket — something that neither major party has run before.
Why she won’t be the new VP: Less than 24 hours after Biden endorsed Harris, Whitmer emphatically told reporters that she has no desire to be vice president. “I’m not planning to go anywhere,” she said, adding, “I am not leaving Michigan; I’m proud to be the governor of Michigan.”
The Governor succession map, via Quinn Yeargain on X:
Markos Moulitsas (kos) at Daily Kos:
So what does Harris need? Quite frankly, as a Black and South Asian woman, she is facing the twin challenges of overcoming racism and sexism. It’s sad to say but her running mate needs to be a white man. The reported list of contenders reflects that stark and unfortunate reality, but it is what it is.
The second thing Harris needs is help in battleground states. The election will be decided by Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The rest of us? Our job is to help get the vote out in those seven states. And the VP’s job is the same.
My pick for Kamala Harris’s running mate will be… Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Why Walz? He is from Minnesota, a state that is Democratic-favored but not fully safe, and could help in the critical Upper Midwest/Great Lakes wall. Walz has signed multiple progressive bills into law in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, especially after the Dems got the trifecta.
Prior to becoming Governor, Walz served as a Congressman in an area of the state that was trending away from the Democratic Party in most of that district, thus he can communicate to swingy and former Democratic areas well.
Walz has a progressive outlook with a moderate temperament, which would be an asset.
Whoever Harris’s VP pick is, let’s unite to elect her and her VP pick to the Presidency come this fall!
My preference order for Harris’s VP:
1. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
2. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
3. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper
4. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear
5. Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly
6. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker
7. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
8. Pete Buttigieg
UPDATE (08.06.2024, 3:20PM EDT/2:20PM CDT): Tim Walz was tapped as Kamala Harris’s Vice President pick.
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Good piece! Just curious, why is Shapiro so far down your list?