Also on July21, Harris announced her intention to run for theDemocratic nomination,[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]
An official reported toABC News on July23 that Arizona SenatorMark Kelly and Governor Josh Shapiro were the leading candidates to be selected as Harris's running mate.[11] Another source toldTalking Points Memo the following day that North Carolina GovernorRoy Cooper was an additional top choice.[12] On July23, theFinancial Times reported that donors preferred Cooper or Shapiro and "Hollywood Democrats" backed Kelly.[13] Minnesota GovernorTim Walz was also a serious candidate,[14] as were Kentucky GovernorAndy Beshear[15] and Transportation SecretaryPete Buttigieg.[16]
On July 29,The New York Times reported Cooper had voluntarily withdrawn his name from consideration.[17]
On July 30,The Hill reported that several progressive leaders and political groups urged Harris to pick Beshear or Walz instead of Shapiro in an effort to consolidate key voting groups and the Democratic base.[18]
On August 1,NBC News andThe New York Times reported that Harris's final shortlist includedAndy Beshear,Pete Buttigieg,Mark Kelly,J. B. Pritzker,Josh Shapiro, andTim Walz.[19][20]The New York Times reported that day that the vice presidential vetting process had been completed.[19] On August 4, Harris interviewed Shapiro, Kelly, and Walz in person at theNumber One Observatory Circle. Following this, on August 5, it was reported that Harris would choose between Walz and Shapiro.[21] Harris did not make her decision on August 5, choosing to "sleep on it" and inform her running mate of her decision the following morning.[10] On August 6, Harris chose Walz.[22][23]
On August 7, the day after Walz had been selected, Shapiro said publicly that he would not have appreciated being on a position other than the lead on the ticket, stating, "throughout my career, I’ve never played small ball. I’m certainly not going to start now."[24]
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.[25] In the same book, it says that Harris used advice from her godson, Alexander Hudlin, who favored Walz.
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.[30][31][32]
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.[36][37]
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)[49]
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 causing speculation behind Philadelphia being chosen as the venue for the rally.[55]
On August 6, Harris announced on social media that she had selected Tim Walz as her running mate. In her announcement, Harris said, "'What impressed me most about Tim is his deep commitment to his family'". Harris added, "'We are going to build a great partnership. We are going to build a great team. We are going to win this election'".[56]
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,[57] and theGaza war, therefore backing Walz. Moderates defended Shapiro, accusing progressives of antisemitism in their attacks. Both sides seemingly accepted Beshear.[58] 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.[59][60]
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".[61] 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.[62][63]
Walz was the first sitting governor selected as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee sinceCharles W. Bryan ofNebraska in1924.[64] If elected, Walz would have been the third vice president from Minnesota afterHubert Humphrey andWalter Mondale.[65] 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,[67] 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.[68]
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.[69]
^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)[33]](/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)[34]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aGina_Raimondo_(cropped_2).jpg)
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![Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia (2010–2025) (independent)[38]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aSenator_Manchin_(cropped_2).jpg)
![Commander of USSOCOM William H. McRaven from Texas (2011–2014)[39]](/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) [36][37]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3a8R4A9872_(53367444225)_(Whitmer1).jpg)
![Businessman Mark Cuban from Texas (independent)[42]](/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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