Who Could Be Kamala Harris’ Running Mate?

While Vice President Kamala Harris has said she intends to “earn and win” the Democratic presidential nomination, widespread endorsements by Democratic Party leaders have spurred speculation about Harris’ potential running mate. 

For Context: Presidential candidates often pick running mates to “balance” their party’s ticket, and Democrats are looking to maximize their chances in key swing states. Former President Donald Trump selected Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) as his running mate at the RNC last week.

Democratic Governors: Several Democratic governors’ names have been floating, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore. All have endorsed Harris for president. 

Other Options: Some have suggested Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a formerly Democratic independent, has said he would not serve as Harris’ vice president. 

How the Media Covered It: Coverage was fairly similar across the spectrum on Monday, offering varying lists of Democratic governors plus Buttigieg or Kelly. Some coverage included sensationally descriptive language, like “speculation is soaring” from Fox News (Right bias) and “a shocking turn of events” from Time Magazine (Lean Left bias).