Also on July21, Harris quickly announcedher own presidential campaign later that day,[4] and the "Biden for President" campaign committee filed paperwork with theFederal Election Commission to change the name of the committee to "Harris for President".[5] On July22, Harris received enough state delegate endorsements to win the nomination and become the presumptive Democratic nominee.[6]
ABC News reported on July23 that Arizona SenatorMark Kelly and Governor Josh Shapiro were the leading candidates to be selected as Harris's running mate.[11] TheFinancial Times reported the same day that donors preferred North Carolina GovernorRoy Cooper or Shapiro, while "Hollywood Democrats" backed Kelly.[12]Talking Points Memo reported the following day that Cooper was an additional top choice.[13] Minnesota GovernorTim Walz was also a serious candidate,[14] as were Kentucky GovernorAndy Beshear[15] and Transportation SecretaryPete Buttigieg.[16]
The New York Times reported on July 29 that Cooper had voluntarily withdrawn his name from consideration.[17]The Hill reported the next day that several progressive leaders and political groups urged Harris to pick Beshear or Walz instead of Shapiro to consolidate key voting groups and the Democratic base.[18]
Later, in her book107 Days, it was revealed that Harris originally planned on tappingPete Buttigieg for her vice presidential pick, but felt it was too risky, as having him as her vice president would mean a black woman and a gay man would be running on the same ballot.[24] In the same book, it says that Harris used advice from her godson, Alexander Hudlin, who favored Walz.
Shapiro wrote in his 2026 book "Where We Keep the Light" thatDana Remus of the Harris vetting team had asked if he had been an "agent of the Israeli government" or communicated with an undercover Israeli agent. He felt the questions were offensive and was concerned about who was around the then-vice president.[25][26]
In addition to the candidates on the shortlist, the following candidates either reportedly received vetting materials from the Harris campaign on July23, 2024 or were reportedly being considered.[31][32][33]
In addition to Roy Cooper, the following individuals were noted by media as potential running mates, but either publicly or privately withdrew their names from consideration. Despite being listed as a serious contender, Michigan GovernorGretchen Whitmer stated on July 29 that she never received any vetting materials and declined to be considered, preferring to serve the remainder of her term.[37][38]
Nancy Pelosi,U.S. Representative fromCA-11 (1987–present), Speaker of the House of Representatives (2007–2011; 2019–2023), House Minority Leader (2003–2007; 2011–2019)[50]
Politico reported on July 30 that Harris planned to hold a rally with her running mate choice inPhiladelphia on August 6, raising speculation that the pick was Pennsylvania GovernorJosh Shapiro; however, a campaign aide for Harris cautioned against speculation regarding Philadelphia being chosen as the venue for the rally.[56] Harris announced on social media on August 6 that she had selected Tim Walz as her running mate. She cited his deep commitment to his family as what impressed her the most.[57]
The selection was described byThe New York Times as aproxy war between progressive and moderate Democrats. Progressive activists accused Shapiro and Kelly of being too conservative, specifically on labor issues, public education,[58] and theGaza war, therefore backing Walz. Moderates defended Shapiro, accusing progressives of antisemitism in their attacks. Both sides seemingly accepted Beshear.[59] An opinion piece inUSA Today said that not picking Shapiro would signal support for a progressive platform, and one inThe Guardian said picking Shapiro would signal moderation.[60][61]
Following the selection, CNN reported that "people familiar with the interview process said that Walz was also someone Harris felt could attract the kinds of voters that Democrats have lost to Donald Trump— voters that Harris may not be able to connect with on her own".[62] Other reports suggested that Walz's folksy, plain-spoken demeanor could help Harris win over blue-collar voters and rural voters in Midwestern swing states.[63][64]
Walz was the first sitting governor selected as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee sinceCharles W. Bryan ofNebraska in1924.[65] If elected, Walz would have been the third vice president from Minnesota afterHubert Humphrey andWalter Mondale.[66] Walz also became the first sitting governor to appear on a Democratic ticket sinceBill Clinton in 1992.
After formally accepting their nomination on the third day of the2024 Democratic National Convention,[68] Harris and Walz went on to lose the general election to the Republican ticket offormer President Donald Trump and U.S. SenatorJD Vance. The Trump/Vance ticket won the Midwestern states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.[69]
In her 2025 memoir107 Days, Harris wrote thatSecretary of TransportationPete Buttigieg had been her "first choice" to be her running mate. She ultimately decided not to select him, however, because of her fear of how the American electorate would respond to a ticket of a Black woman and a gay man.[70]
^Epstein, Reid J.; Lerer, Lisa; Goldmacher, Shane; Schleifer, Theodore (August 7, 2024)."Tim Walz's Sudden Rise in the Democratic Party Was No Accident".The New York Times. RetrievedAugust 8, 2024.Her advisers had begun by considering nine candidates—in addition to the widely reported final six, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico, Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland and Gina Raimondo, the secretary of commerce, were vetted—and Mr. Walz was not perceived as a front-runner.
2024 U.S. presidential election
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![Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico (2019–present)[34]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMichelle_Lujan_Grisham_2021.jpg)
![Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo from Rhode Island (2021–2025)[35]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aGina_Raimondo_(cropped_2).jpg)
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![Commander of USSOCOM William H. McRaven from Texas (2011–2014)[40]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aChancellor_McRaven_February_2017_(32226902794)_(cropped).jpg)
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![Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan (2019–present) [37][38]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3a8R4A9872_(53367444225)_(Whitmer1).jpg)
![Businessman Mark Cuban from Texas (independent)[43]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aMark_Cuban_speaking_at_a_business_roundtable_hosted_by_the_Kamala_Harris_for_President_campaign_at_Ocotillo_in_Phoenix%2c_Arizona_on_October_19%2c_2024_-_16_(cropped).png)
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