US President Joe Biden announced on Sunday, July 21, that he will end his re-election campaign and stated that he would be happy for his vice-president, Kamala Harris, to take his place.
That decision sparked a wave of support for her, so a nomination for Kamala Harris at the Democratic Convention in August seems likely, though not a sure thing.
If the endorsement becomes official, a running mate will be needed for the position of Vice President of the United States.
Delegates will vote at the Democratic National Convention next month to officially confirm who will replace Joe Biden and the vice presidential nominee.
The following names could be in play, according to the BBC:
Mark Kelly, senator de Arizona
A former astronaut and war veteran, Kelly is a possible running mate given his success in Arizona, a key state in the presidential election.
Trump has been leading Biden in polls in the state, so Kelly’s recruitment could boost the Democrats’ popularity at a crucial time in the race.
He is the husband of former House Representative Gabby Giffords, who was seriously injured in a 2011 shooting in Arizona. With gun violence a major campaign issue for Democrats, Kelly’s personal story could resonate with voters.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Gretchen Whitmer, the two-term governor of Michigan, is an increasingly popular Democrat from the Midwest who many pundits speculate will run for president in 2028. She has campaigned for Biden in the past and has not been shy with regarding his political aspirations.
She told The New York Times that she wants to see a Gen X president in 2028, but stopped short of suggesting that she might fill the role.
In 2022, he ran a campaign that saw Michigan Democrats take control of the state legislature and the governorship.
This allowed him to enact a number of progressive policies, including protecting access to abortion in Michigan and enacting gun safety measures.
Whitmer quickly declared after Biden’s withdrawal that his position “will remain the same … doing everything he can to win over Democrats and stop Donald Trump.”
Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky
Beshear has carved out a successful career as the Democratic leader of a deeply Republican state. He won his first term in 2019 and was re-elected in 2023, campaigning on key party issues such as supporting public education and protecting reproductive rights.
His popularity in Kentucky is crucial, given that the state voted for Trump by a margin of more than 25 percentage points in 2020.
At 46, Beshear is also one of the youngest governors in the country.
He, too, could run for president in 2028. But now that Biden is out of the picture, Beshear’s bid for the White House could come much sooner.
Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania
Josh Shapiro has posted high approval ratings since being elected in 2022 in a swing state narrowly won by Trump in 2016.
The governor, who previously served as the state’s attorney general, has worked with all parties during his tenure.
Last year, he made national headlines after he quickly rebuilt a collapsed bridge on a crucial freeway in Philadelphia — a major political victory for a first-term governor.
The quick fix has been cited by many as the perfect infrastructure talking point for a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
Shapiro said Biden was one of “the most important presidents in modern history” and that he would “do everything possible to help elect Kamala Harris as the 47th president of the United States.”
Roy Cooper, Governor of North Carolina
Cooper is another Democrat who has made a big splash in a state that voted for Trump twice, in both 2016 and 2020.
North Carolina is seen as a big opportunity for Democrats, given the rapid population growth around its major centers of Charlotte and Raleigh. Kamala Harris herself has traveled to the state several times this year in an attempt to shore up support for her party.
In addition to his popularity, Cooper also brings with him a wealth of experience, having held public office since 1987.
He served in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and later was elected the state’s attorney general—a position he held for 16 years, thanks to three successful re-elections. Cooper then went on to serve as governor, first elected in 2017 and again in 2020.
He has already expressed his support for Kamala Harris’s presidential bid, writing on social media: “I’ve known (the vice president) since we were attorneys general, and she has what it takes to defeat Donald Trump.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom
The governor of California is one of the most ardent supporters of the Biden administration.
He is often mentioned as a possible 2028 candidate, but many Democratic pundits have suggested he could be in the running to replace Biden.
Newsom has raised his national profile in recent years as a key party messenger in the conservative media and after last year’s debate with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
He was with the president before his announcement. He traveled to Washington to attend meetings in July with Biden and other top Democratic governors and headlined a Biden campaign event in Michigan on July 4.
Newsom again praised Biden as a “selfless” president after his retirement and said he was backing the “fearless” and “tough” Harris to take on Trump.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg
It’s no secret that Pete Buttigieg has presidential aspirations. He ran in 2020 and is often touted as one of the Biden administration’s best communicators. Buttigieg managed a number of public crises during his time as transport minister.
He helped oversee the government’s response to the East Palestine train derailment in Ohio, the Baltimore bridge collapse, and the 2022 Southwest Airlines flight planning crisis.
Buttigieg said on X, formerly Twitter, that Biden “has earned his place among the best and most consistent presidents in American history.”
He said he would do “whatever he can to help elect Kamala Harris as president.”
JB Pritzker, Governor of the State of Illinois
JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois, has increased his visibility in recent years by attacking Trump and defending Biden.
The billionaire businessman – heir to the Hyatt hotel chain – is quick to post criticism of Trump on social media.
After the debate, he called Trump a “liar” and said he was a “34-felony felon who only cares about himself.”
Like Gretchen Whitmer, Pritzker has a track record of completing agenda items for progressive Democrats on issues such as abortion rights and gun control.
Other possible candidates
The list of potential candidates stretches beyond these Democrats, as the party has developed a solid base of talent.
Maryland Governor Wes Moore has been in the spotlight in recent months following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker have run for president in the past and are well known among Democrats.
And Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock won a hotly contested Senate race in a swing state.
Source: ziare.com
