Potential VPs for a Theoretical 2024 Democratic Nominee Kamala Harris

[gf20202]

Ludicrous exercise I know and completely contingent on a Biden win and successful Kamala primary run but curious what others thoughts are and if I missed or underranked/overanked anybody:

Thoughts?

1. Senator Mark Kelly if he wins. Fundraising Superstar + Swing State + Astronaut + Veteran + Ideal Age + Probably The Most Vetted You Can Be Without Having Run a National Campaign + Record of Supporting Each Other Politically
2. Senator Chris Murphy. Experienced + National Profile albeit limited but still more known than someone like Martin Heinrich. Dems pick Senators. It's what they do.
3. Governor Tim Walz. Pretty much the only option for boring older but not too old white guy in the midwest for ticket balance + Gov but DC experience in the House + Veteran
4. Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Swing State + Ideal Age + Already Underwent One Vetting without much issue, maybe worry about gender balance of the ticket though
5. Secretary Julian Castro if he somehow gets into Biden’s cabinet. Run for President before + Ideal Age
6. Senator Cal Cunnigham if he wins. Swing State + Army Reserves + Ideal age
7. Governor Roy Cooper. Swing State, less than ideal age though
8. Governor Andrew Cuomo. Seemingly well regarded after Covid-19, less than ideal age though
9. Senator Amy Klobuchar. Kind of replaces the Biden part of the 2020 ticket + Midwest + run for president before, gender balance concerns though as well as two law & order dem types on the same ticket maybe not making a lot of sense
10. Wildcard #1 Governor Andy Beshear. Interesting Political Story to tell in red state + Ideal Age, but not sure he gets the campaign anything and not 100% pro-choice though as I understand it
11. Senator Tammy Baldwin if Wisconsin is trending blue enough to hold the seat. Swing State + Ideal Age, maybe too much history making though and concerns over gender balance
12. Wildcard #2— Senator Joe Kennedy III if he wins the primary. Durable brand in democratic politics, something new (first woman president), something old (something of a Kennedy restoration)

I don't think she'll pick another African American even if some may appear on the list still for reasons of principle and/or optics. Sorry Corey Booker and KLB. Even another woman feels somewhat unlikely.

Why Plausible Others Didn’t Make the List:
Senator Steve Bullock if he wins. Lots of pluses including being a former governor who has won in a red state, but even if he and Cooney both win, I can’t see Dems risking a senate seat/benefits of an incumbency in an otherwise red state.
Senator Martin Heinrich - Probably doesn’t have enough name recognition and doesn’t have upside to deal with the lack of geographic balance on the ticket
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto -  Probably doesn’t have enough name recognition and doesn’t have upside to deal with the lack of geographic or gender balance on the ticket, this felt more like her cycle to have a chance and wasn’t interested in being considered
Senator Gary Peters - Only somewhat reasonably aged pro-choice senator from the midwest, but doesn’t seem to move the needle/have national profile
Senator Michael Bennet - Ran a really blah presidential campaign and might have some potential health concerns
Mayor Pete Buttgieg - Without being from a swing state, First Gay Man on the same ticket as First Potential Woman President seems unlikely, not sure he gets a cabinet position enough to answer experience questions
Governor Jared Polis - Without being from a true swing state, Jewish First Gay Man on the same ticket as First Potential Woman President seems unlikely
Representative AOC - Barely constitutionally eligible, probably too much political risk for the cautious Harris

[gf20202]

The first few that jump to mind are Cory Booker or Julian Castro if she's looking for a man of color. If she's looking for a white man, Cal Cunningham, Andy Beshear, and possibly someone like Conor Lamb or Josh Shapiro if they win PA Gov/Sen in 2022. If she wants a white woman, Gretchen Whitmer and Tammy Baldwin seem like great options. And for a woman of color, which strikes me as the least likely scenario, then KLB, Stacey Abrams, Tammy Duckworth, and Michelle Lujan Grisham would be up there for sure.

In terms of Lamb, Shapiro and Abrams, it seems unlikely that Harris would pick someone elected in the previous cycle, two years not really time in the job to get credit for it or appear experienced.

[gf20202]

IMO, she can't go wrong with any of these-

Sen. Cal Cunningam of North Carolina
Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina
Congressman Tim Ryan of Ohio
Sen. Steve Bullock of Montana
Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio
Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona
Fmr. Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana
Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky
Sen. Jon Tester of Montana
Fmr. Secretary Julian Castro of Texas
Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania

If she wants a woman, she should go with either one of the Tammys or Gretchen Whitmer.

JBE and Bob Casey are pro-life and thus nonstarters for the democratic VP nomination.