Who could be Kamala Harris's running mate?

US President Joe Biden on Sunday announced he would end his re-election campaign, and said Kamala Harris, his vice-president, should take his place.

“I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year,” he wrote on X. “Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump.”

Ms Harris taking over looks likely, although it is not a done deal.

Several others were touted as potential replacements for Mr Biden but have backed Ms Harris. If the endorsement becomes official, a running mate will be needed.

Delegates will vote next month at the Democratic National Convention to officially confirm who will replace Mr Biden, and the candidate for vice-president.

The following names could be in the mix.

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Gretchen Whitmer, the two-term governor of Michigan, is an increasingly popular Midwest Democrat who many pundits speculate will run for president in 2028.

She has campaigned for Mr Biden in the past and has not been shy about her political aspirations.

She told The New York Times that she wants to see a Generation X president in 2028, but stopped short of suggesting that she might fill that role.

In 2022, she led a campaign that left Michigan Democrats in control of the state’s legislature and the governor’s mansion.

That allowed her to enact a number of progressive policies, including protecting Michigan abortion access and the passage of gun safety measures.

Ms Whitmer quickly stated after Mr Biden’s withdrawal that her job “will remain the same… doing everything I can to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump”.

California Governor Gavin Newsom

California’s governor is one of the Biden administration’s fiercest surrogates.

He is often listed as a possible 2028 candidate, but many Democratic pundits had suggested he could be in the race to replace Mr Biden.

Mr Newsom raised his national profile in recent years by being a key party messenger on conservative media, and via a debate against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis last year.

He stood by the president before his announcement. He travelled to Washington to attend meetings in July with Mr Biden and other top Democratic governors, and headlined a Biden campaign event in Michigan on the 4 July.

Mr Newsom again praised Mr Biden as a “selfless” president after his withdrawal, and said he backed the “fearless” and “tenacious” Ms Harris to face Trump.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

It is no secret that Pete Buttigieg has presidential aspirations.

He ran in 2020 and is often touted as one of the Biden administration’s best communicators.

Mr Buttigieg has managed a number of public crises during his time as transportation secretary.

He helped to oversee the government response to the East Palestine train derailment in Ohio, the Baltimore Bridge collapse and Southwest Airlines’ scheduling crisis in 2022.

Mr Buttigieg stated on Twitter/X that Mr Biden had “earned his place among the best and most consequential presidents in American history”.

He said he would do “all that I can to help elect Kamala Harris the next President”.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80ekdwk9zro