Vice President Kamala Harris, now the presumptive Democratic Party nominee, will announce her running mate in the upcoming days from a short list that includes Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.
Vice presidential candidates are often chosen to add something to the ticket that the top candidate lacks, such as geographical or demographic identity or the ability to help win a swing state.
An added factor in this case is that Harris is a latecomer to the race, according to Aaron Dusso, a professor of political science at the University of Indiana–Indianapolis.
“That means voters will be learning a lot about her over the next three months,” Dusso told The Epoch Times. “[They] will be learning about both of them at the same time, and that could make this vice presidential pick more impactful than is normally the case.”
Here’s a look at the top candidates, what they might add to the 2024 Democrat ticket, and what their drawbacks may be.
Josh ShapiroSome analysts say Shapiro, 51, is the best choice to join the Harris ticket. He won his 2022 gubernatorial election by a 15-point margin, making him