Kamala Harris Running Mate Update as New Contender Emerges

On Wednesday, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker was approached by Kamala Harris' presidential campaign to explore the possibility of him becoming her running mate for the 2024 election, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. The newspaper cited an unnamed source for this information. In a subsequent interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Pritzker suggested that it would be "hard to resist a call" if he were asked to join Harris as her vice-presidential nominee.

The context for this development follows Joe Biden's recent announcement that he would withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. Concerns about the 81-year-old president's age and ability to serve another term led to his decision. Biden endorsed Harris as the likely Democratic candidate, leading to significant speculation regarding her choice for a running mate.

During his CNN interview, Pritzker refrained from discussing whether the Harris campaign had requested him to submit any formal documentation for vetting as a vice-presidential candidate. He stated, "I'm not going to talk about any private conversations I've had." However, Pritzker did not dismiss the idea of accepting the role. He mentioned, "I love being governor of Illinois, and the people of Illinois have honored me with this role for the past two elections. I'd be hesitant to make a change, but it would be hard to resist and consider if the nominee reached out to me for the vice-presidential position."

Pritzker noted that the emergence of Kamala Harris as the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate had generated considerable enthusiasm among party supporters. He observed, "I think the palpable excitement is evident. I've received hundreds of calls in the past few days. People are genuinely thrilled and eager to engage. This contrasts sharply with the uncertainty and attacks we faced recently. Harris brings a dynamic, energetic presence that particularly excites younger voters."

In addition to Pritzker, MSNBC reported that Harris’ campaign had also reached out to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, asking them to provide materials for potential vetting as vice-presidential candidates. Other names frequently mentioned in discussions include Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, and Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear.

A recent survey conducted by The New York Times involving 251 out of over 3,000 delegates in the Democratic presidential nominating process revealed that Governor Shapiro is the leading candidate for the vice-presidential nomination. Shapiro garnered support from 40 delegates, placing him ahead of Senator Kelly, who was second with 28 delegate votes.