---
title: "Op/ed: To Find a VP, Harris Should Look to Swing States"
date: 2024-07-23T15:46:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/op-ed-to-find-a-vp-harris-should-look-to-swing-states"
section: Articles
---
# Op/ed: To Find a VP, Harris Should Look to Swing States

*July 23, 2024* — by [Aaron Mannes](/author/aaron-mannes)


> Public Policy Researcher Weighs Credentials of 5 Talked-About Options

*Getty Images 2162421405 1920x1080 — Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the White House the day after President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race, leaving her as the Democratic frontrunner. A UMD researcher says making the right vice presidential pick can benefit her in November.*

*With Vice President Kamala Harris [appearing increasingly likely](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/07/23/kamala-harris-wisconsin-campaign-president/) to top the Democrats’ ballot this fall after President Biden pulled out of the race, the next question on her election agenda is who she’ll tap for her own vice presidential candidate.*

*Although the best political science* [*analyses*](https://kansaspress.ku.edu/9780700629701/) *suggest vice president picks generally have little to do with the election outcome, tiny margins matter in key swing states in this election, mandating a wise pick, writes Aaron Mannes, a lecturer and research associate in the University of Maryland’s School of Public Policy, in a new essay in* Newsweek*.*

The top priority in a VP pick is to do no harm to your own campaign. A running mate should appear credibly presidential. When a presidential candidate chooses their running mate, they are effectively saying that they believe their running mate is of presidential timber. Picks who are clearly unqualified for the presidency, like [John McCain](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/john-mccain)'s selection of [Sarah Palin](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/sarah-palin) in 2008, should be avoided at all costs.

Enough preliminaries, everyone wants names! Who will Harris pick?

At the top of the list are a bunch of governors from swing states: Roy Cooper of North Carolina, [Josh Shapiro](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/josh-shapiro)of Pennsylvania, and [Gretchen Whitmer](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/gretchen-whitmer) of Michigan. Kentucky Governor [Andy Beshear](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/andy-beshear) isn't from a swing state, but he is a Democrat who won three statewide elections in deep-red Kentucky. Finally, Arizona Senator and former astronaut [Mark Kelly](https://www.newsweek.com/topic/mark-kelly) would add star power (no pun intended) to the ticket.

*Read* [*the rest*](https://www.newsweek.com/find-vp-harris-should-look-swing-states-opinion-1928472) *in* Newsweek.




**Topics:** [Research](https://today.umd.edu/tags/research)


**Tags:** [Government and Politics](https://today.umd.edu/topic/government-and-politics), [2024 Elections](https://today.umd.edu/topic/2024-elections), [Research](https://today.umd.edu/topic/research)


**Units:** [School of Public Policy](https://today.umd.edu/topic/school-public-policy)