As Donald Trump narrows down his search for a running mate, Senate Republicans are eagerly awaiting their colleague’s potential selection. Trump is expected to announce his pick for vice president within the next few days.
When asked about his decision-making process, Trump told Hannity, “I haven’t made a final decision, but I have some ideas.” Senators J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio, as well as Governor Doug Burgum, are reportedly among Trump’s top contenders.
Vance was noncommittal when questioned about his potential selection, saying, “I’m going to be here this week” and declining to comment further. Meanwhile, some Senate Republicans are openly advocating for specific candidates. Senator Kevin Cramer, for instance, praised Burgum’s depth and expertise, saying, “He’s been a great advocate for not just energy but for economic policy in general.”
Burgum has traveled extensively with Trump and has been a vocal supporter of his, attending his trial and speaking highly of his work as president. Cramer believes Burgum would bring “meat on the bones” to Trump’s campaign, making his case for a potential vice presidency.
Other Senate Republicans are taking a more cautious approach, refraining from publicly endorsing specific candidates. Senator Roger Marshall, for instance, said, “I’m watching closely and think the three of them would do a great job.” Senator Eric Schmitt, who recently met with Trump to discuss policy issues, also declined to take sides, saying, “He’s got a lot of great options.”
Beyond the vice presidency, there is speculation that Trump could be considering Senate Republicans for top posts in his Cabinet if he wins the election in November. The potential to scoop talent from the Senate is a departure from 2016, when Trump focused on the House. Trump has also been rumored to be considering Cabinet posts for Senators like Marco Rubio, Bill Hagerty, Tom Cotton, and Eric Schmitt.
However, many Republicans are cautioning against counting their chickens before they hatch. “It’s far too early to be even thinking about this,” said an adviser to a Republican senator, who wished to remain anonymous. “We need to be clearly focused on winning the election – then we can start to consider which senators would make great Cabinet members.”
