As Vice President Kamala Harris considers her options for a running mate, she is weighing factors such as electability and personal connection. While several candidates, including Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), could potentially help her win their home states, her relationships with them are relatively limited.
Harris’s history with Shapiro dates back to 2006, when they both participated in a fellowship program for young politicians. However, their connection is not particularly deep. Shapiro was one of several governors who attended a listening session at Harris’s residence, the Naval Observatory, in February to provide feedback on President Joe Biden’s campaign.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, with whom Harris has worked in the Biden administration, met with her for 90 minutes on Friday as part of her preparation for her 2020 debate against former Vice President Mike Pence. Buttigieg played the role of Pence, who also hails from Indiana.
Harris has also crossed paths with other potential running mates, including Govs. Andy Beshear (D-KY), J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), and Tim Walz (D-MN), who all attended the listening session at her residence. She served in the Senate with Sen. Mark Kelly for a brief period in 2021, before she was inaugurated as vice president.
As Harris prepares to make a decision, she is meeting with her vetting team to review in-depth reports on her potential running mates. Former Attorney General Eric Holder, whose law firm is leading the vetting process, was spotted arriving at her residence on Saturday. Harris has set a self-imposed deadline of next Tuesday to make a decision, and her campaign has announced a five-day, seven-state swing starting in Philadelphia on that day.
