Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris has narrowed her search for a vice-presidential running mate to two finalists, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, three sources with knowledge of the matter said on Monday.
Harris, the US vice-president, is expected to announce her selection by Tuesday, ahead of her first scheduled public appearance with her running mate that evening at Temple University in Philadelphia.
It was unclear if a final decision has been made, the sources said. The rally will kick off a five-day, seven-city tour of battleground states likely to decide the November 5 election.
The choice of a running mate is one of the most consequential decisions of Harris’ political career, as she hastily pulls together a campaign to challenge Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and US Senator J.D. Vance, his vice-presidential pick, in the election. Vance will also make a campaign stop in South Philadelphia on Tuesday.
Shapiro, 51, is a rising star of the party with strong approval ratings in Pennsylvania, whose 19 electoral votes makes it a must-win state for both Harris and Trump.
A former state attorney general, Shapiro would add to the ticket’s historical significance; he would be the country’s first Jewish vice-president, while Harris is seeking to become the first Black and South Asian American woman elected US president.
Shapiro’s strong support for Israel could alienate some progressive voters, though it could also appeal to moderate voters and defang Republican efforts to turn the Israel-Gaza war into a wedge issue for Democrats.
Walz, 60, is a former US Army National Guard member and a former teacher who has raised his profile in recent weeks as an effective advocate for Harris. He has attacked Trump and Vance as “weird”, a viral insult the Harris campaign has embraced.
A former member of Congress from a Republican-leaning district, Walz has proven appeal to rural, white voters, though he has also championed progressive policies as governor, such as free school meals and expanded paid worker leave.
While Minnesota is a solidly Democratic state, it is close to Wisconsin and Michigan, two crucial battlegrounds.
Speculation had focused on six finalists – four governors, a senator and a cabinet secretary in the Biden administration, all white men with a record of winning over rural, white or independent voters.
In addition to Shapiro and Walz, contenders included US Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker.
The candidates will be informed on Monday night or Tuesday morning whether they were picked, sources told Reuters. The Harris campaign plans a social media announcement featuring the duo, campaign officials familiar with the arrangements said.
Harris’ search for a running mate began in earnest two weeks ago, soon after US President Joe Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed her to replace him.
There was no immediate indication that Monday’s market sell-off would have an impact on Harris’ announcement timing. Trump, seeking to capitalise on the downturn, referred to the “Kamala crash” in a post on his social media site, Truth Social.
Over the weekend, Harris met her vetting team, including former attorney general Eric Holder, whose law firm Covington & Burling LLP scrutinised the finances and background of potential running mates.
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Kamala Harris, a trailblazer eyeing America’s highest glass ceiling
Kamala Harris, a trailblazer eyeing America’s highest glass ceiling
Holder and his office made in-depth presentations on each of the finalists, according to multiple sources familiar with the process.
Harris is weighing the decision with her husband, Doug Emhoff, brother-in-law Tony West and a small circle of aides and advisers, the sources said.
On her battleground states tour, Harris and her running mate will hit seven cities in five days: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; Durham, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; Phoenix, Arizona; and Las Vegas, Nevada, said a campaign official, who did not wish to be named.
They will hold rallies in each location along the tour, which will include college campuses, historically black universities, union halls and restaurants, the official said.
Over the weekend, the Harris campaign launched a programme to persuade Republican voters to support the Democrat and showcased endorsements from Republicans including former Trump White House officials Stephanie Grisham and Olivia Troye.
The programme – called Republicans for Harris – will hold kick-off events in the battleground states of Arizona, North Carolina and Pennsylvania on Monday.
On Monday, Harris notched another union endorsement with the hospitality workers union praising her as having a long-standing record of delivering for union workers.
