Who will be Kamala Harris’ VP pick? The candidates who could join the ticket now that Biden has dropped out

President Biden dropping out of the presidential race with less than four months before Election Day and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him sets off a series of frantic steps Democrats must take to have their ticket ready to take on Donald Trump.

‘Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,’ Biden wrote on X.  

While Harris is the likely nominee with the president’s backing, it is not guaranteed until the delegates vote at the convention next month to formally nominate a candidate.   

Questions also swirl over who would be Harris’ running mate as number two on the ticket if she officially becomes the nominee. 

Some of the names floated as a potential replacement before Biden exited the race and endorsed Harris on Sunday include California Governor Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. 

While these top Democrats are slowing reacting to the news of Biden exiting the race and Harris running, they have not yet weighed in on joining a Harris ticket.  

Here’s whose names have been floated and what they’re saying: 

Governor Josh Shapiro

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s name often comes up as a Democrat with a bright political future and potential sights on the White House. 

The battleground state governor was one of the first Democratic leaders to push back on replacing Biden following his stumbling debate performance, but it is not clear whether he would join a Harris ticket. 

 ‘President Biden is a patriot who has served our country honorably in the Senate, as Vice President, and as one of the most consequential presidents in modern history,’ he wrote on X. 

Governor Josh Shapiro with Vice President Kamala Harris in Philadelphia, PA on July 13

‘President Biden has gotten an incredible amount done to move our country forward, defend our democracy, and protect real freedom. I am proud to work by his side and am grateful for his leadership and his unwavering commitment to delivering for Pennsylvania — the Commonwealth that raised him,’ he continued.

In a separate statement on Sunday, Shapiro endorsed Vice President Harris for the nomination. 

‘I’ve known Kamala Harris for nearly tow decades – we’ve both been prosecutors, we’ve both stood up for the rule of law, we’ve both fought for the people and delivered results. Kamala Harris is a patriot worthy of our support and she will continue to work for generations of Americans who came before us to perfect our union, protect our democracy, and advance real freedom,’ he said in a statement. ‘She has served the country honorably as Vice President and she is ready to be President.’

The battleground state governor said the best path forward for the Democratic Party is to ‘quickly unite behind Vice President Harris and refocus on winning the presidency.’

He vowed he would do everything he an to help elect Harris as the next president.
 

Governor Andy Beshear

Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat who won reelection in ruby red Kentucky last year released a lengthy statement on Biden’s exit from the presidential race. 

President Biden wil be remembered as a consequential president. Along with Vice President Harris, he led us through the aftermath of the January 6th attack on our Capitol and steadily steered us out of a global pandemic. He showed up for Kentucky after devastating tornadoes and historic flooding, delivering immediate federal aid that is helping to rebuild our communities,’ he said. 

‘His leadership provided infrastructure investments that are bringing clean drinking water and high speed internet to parts of Kentucky that for far too long had been overlooked and underserved,’ he continued. 

Democratic Governor Andy Beshear previously said mention of his name as a Biden replacement is flattering. He praised him in a statement on Sunday

‘While his decision today could not have been easy it is in the best interest of our country, and our party. I want to thank him for his leadership, kindness and for a successful presidency that got big, important things done.’

‘Now is time for our nation to come together. we need to dial down the anger, rancor and noise. We have an opportunity to remember that we are taught to treat our neighbors as ourselves — and that we are all each other’s neighbors,’ he finished. 

Governor Roy Cooper

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper won his state in two elections even as Trump won the state in the presidential race. Now he is term limited and preparing to leave office. 

Bringing him on to the Democratic presidential ticket could put North Carolina closer into play for Democrats. He has also frequently appeared with both Biden and Harris on the campaign trail. 

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper speaking at a Biden Harris campaign event in Greensboro, NC on July 11

‘President Biden has cemented his place among our nations’s finest Presidents,’ Cooper wrote in a statement on Sunday. ‘When our democracy faced danger, President Biden stood strong as the rarest type of leader who could help u forge ahead with a vision to repair our country’s soul,’ he said. 

 Cooper praised him passing transformative legislation that will benefit the economy, families, and the country for generations. 

‘I’m deeply grateful to call President Joe Biden my friend, and I think him form the bottom of my heart for his service to our great nation,’ he concluded.  

Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has often been referred to as one of the potential future leaders of the Democratic party. She also hails from a battleground state and served as a co-chair for the Biden campaign.    

She said her job in the election will remain doing everything she can to elect Democrats and stop Trump. 

‘President Biden is a great public servant who knows better than anyone what it takes to defeat Donald Trump,’ she wrote on X. 

‘His remarkable work to lower prescription drug costs, fix the damn roads, bring supply chains home, address climate change, and ensure America’s global leadership over decades will go down in history,’ she continued. 

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer vowed to do everything she could to help elect Democrats and beat Trump

‘My job in this election will remain the same: doing everything I can to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump, a convicted felon whose agenda of raising families’ costs, banning abortion nationwide, and abusing the power of the White House to settle his own scores is completely wrong for Michigan,’ she concluded.

Pete Buttigieg

Transportation Secretary and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg’s name has also been mentioned by some hopeful Democrats looking for a younger generation of leaders.

The 42-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana gained national attention for running in the 2020 primary before joining the Biden administration. 

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg thanked Biden for his ‘unwavering focus on what is best’ for the country

On Sunday he wrote ‘Joe Biden has earned his place among the best and most consequential presidents in American history.’

‘I am so proud to serve under his leadership, and thankful for his unwavering focus on what is best for our country,’ he posted on X.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has been a fierce supporter of President Biden and reacted to his exit from the presidential race with high praise. 

‘President Biden has been an extraordinary, history-making president — a leader who has fought hard for working people and delivered astonishing results for all Americans. He will go down in history as one of the most impactful and selfless presidents,’ Newsom reacted to Biden exiting the race on X. 

California Governor Gavin Newsom praised Biden as a ‘history-making’ president

When previously asked about replacing Biden on the ticket, Newsom forcefully rejected it. It is not yet clear where he stands on the VP spot.