We’re now less than 100 days from Election Day, and Democratic Party officials are making it clear they want to finalize their new presidential ticket as soon as possible.
Top party leaders have stated they would like Vice President Harris to choose her running mate by August 7th, sparking speculation this week on who it might be.
Potential candidates include Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Scott Kelly, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
However, Gov. Cooper announced on Monday that he would not be considered for the position, citing that it wasn’t the right time for North Carolina and himself to potentially be on a national ticket.
Oddsmakers at OddsChecker currently have Sen. Kelly and Gov. Shapiro as the frontrunners. Both have made public moves recently indicating their interest in the role.
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“People have always tried to ‘balance the ticket’ with a vice presidential pick,” Democratic Congresswoman Gwen Moore told Scripps News. “I do think that it’s really important for her to show some diversity. She is an African-American woman. And so I think a very balanced ticket, you know, might be to choose a man.”
Pennsylvania, with the most Electoral College votes up for grabs among major swing states (19 in total), continues to be a focal point in discussions due to its importance.
The chosen candidate would likely go head-to-head with Senator J.D. Vance in a vice presidential debate, which was initially planned for mid August but is now pending Harris’ decision.
