Vice President Kamala Harris’s first test as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is selecting a running mate. She's working on a truncated timeline after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, and a swift decision is expected before an Aug. 7 virtual roll call.
Harris could now pick a No. 2 who brings unique strengths to the reshuffled Democratic ticket. And it gives her a chance to balance her ticket somewhat, whereas former President Donald Trump's choice of Ohio Sen. JD Vance last week mostly reinforced his own worldview.
The names on Harris' reported shortlist are familiar to Cook Political Report readers of the last few down-ballot cycles. The top reported candidates are governors — Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, Tim Walz of Minnesota — plus Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
Like Harris, three of the governors on this list served as their state's attorney general before winning higher office. Harris has already drawn a contrast between her prosecutorial background and Trump's 34 felony convictions, and a potential ticket mate could reinforce that
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