By The Democratic National Convention, where the 2020 Presidential nominee will be formally selected, is a year and several months away. Naturally, now is the time to consider the best Vice Presidential options.
VPs are typically chosen to balance the ticket/expand the nominee’s coalition (Lyndon Johnson, Sarah Palin), address a candidate’s weak spots (Mike Pence, Joe Biden), or to appeal to a specific swing state (Tim Kaine). While all of these factors will be considerations for the 2020 nominee, the diversifying ranks of the Democratic Party may encourage candidates to consider another factor: racial and gender balance.
The candidates below can fill in important gaps for the likely nominee, making them top-tier candidates for VP consideration.
Kamala Harris (Senator from CA): Harris is running for President right now, and given she’s polling a consistent third, has a good shot at winning the nomination. If she falls short, however, she’ll likely be an attractive VP pick. Given most of the candidates are white men (including 3 of the top 5 poll leaders), a high profile black, multiracial woman like Harris could do a good job of balancing the ticket. Harris could also balance the ticket ideologically – though she’s no moderate, she could give an establishment shine to a Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren-led ticket. Her experience as a prosecutor will be beneficial in the Vice-Presidential debate against Mike Pence and her government experience in general would likely make her a valuable governing partner.
Tammy Duckworth (Senator from IL): Duckworth is another high-profile woman of color, but with two critical advantages over Harris – she’s a combat veteran and she’s from the Midwest (she holds President Obama’s former Senate seat). That Midwest appeal will be invaluable in a race that’s likely to focus on Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, while her military experience will make her hard to criticize. Republicans have also demonstrated a habit of sticking their feet in their mouths when criticizing Duckworth. However, although Duckworth isn’t white, she isn’t black or Latinx, the two constituencies Democrats really need to excite to win in 2020.
Tammy Baldwin (Senator from WI): Baldwin is another Senator from the Midwest, one with a fairly progressive record. She would also be the first openly gay Vice-Presidential nominee, a striking contrast with noted homophobe Mike Pence. Baldwin could boost the ticket’s vote share in Wisconsin and would be a safe but effective pick. However, if she is elected VP, Democrats will have to win back her Senate seat. In red-drifting Wisconsin, that’s no sure thing, and Democrats have no margin for error when it comes to the Senate majority.
Pete Buttigieg (Mayor from IN): Like Baldwin, Buttigieg is a gay Midwesterner who could offer the ticket regional balance while directly challenging Pence. And like Duckworth, Mayor Pete is a veteran, a further benefit to the ticket. However, being a young white guy, he wouldn’t be able to balance many tickets. He’d be a strong running mate pick for Harris or perhaps Warren, but probably not Biden or Sanders.
Julián Castro (Mayor from TX, fmr. Cabinet Secretary): As one of the highest profile Latinx lawmakers in the country, Castro would be helpful in any strategy focusing on the southwest, particularly in his home state of Texas. His youth would also be a useful contrast against an older nominee like Biden (first in polls), Bernie (second in polls), or Warren (fifth in polls). Finally, his record in the Obama administration could be a helpful link to the popular former President (for whatever that’s worth).
Andrew Gillum (Mayor from Florida): Gillum ran a close gubernatorial race in Florida and is now launching a massive voter registration drive in the state. The fact that he lost that race might make him less appealing, but he remains a dynamic figure. An older white candidate would likely benefit from a young black running mate. Plus, Gillum’s progressivism could help a more moderate nominee appeal to the left wing of the party.
There are other options as well, of course. Stacey Abrams (fmr. Georgia gubernatorial nominee) is already being floated, but she may well be running for Senate by that point. Hillary Clinton strongly considered Cory Booker in 2016, and he may still be an appealing prospect. Tim Kaine could even get a second chance if the nominee wants a more experienced running mate.
But any of these candidates offer high value to the eventual nominee. Keep an eye on them over the next year – who they endorse and critique could have an outsized sway on who eventually wins the VP nomination.
Breakdown Politics 