Two frontrunners have emerged in the race to be presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’s second in command: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
Shapiro, 51, and Kelly, 60, each represent 2024 swing states Democrats badly need to win in November.
“Shapiro is toward the top,” said one insider familiar with the back and forth. “Locking down Pennsylvania would change the entire trajectory of the race.”
Another prominent Democrat on the Hill warned talks were still “fluid.”
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump famously turned the long-blue Keystone state red in the 2016 election.
While not as critical as Pennsylvania, Arizona — which President Biden and Harris won in 2020 — could stay in the Democratic column with Kelly on her ticket, supporters said.
Kelly comes with his own list of positives, said one Democratic congressman.
“Astronaut, safe choice, Gabby Giffords,” said the source, referring to Kelly’s former occupation and his politician wife, who survived a shooting at a 2011 constituent event in Tucson.
Meghan McCain, the daughter of late Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain, said Kelly was “absolutely” a frontrunner.
“He and his wife Gabby are very well liked and respected in Arizona. His military and NASA background is obviously very compelling and inspirational. He is a dangerous choice for Republicans,” she said.
Shapiro and Kelly are not without their drawbacks.
Shapiro is loathed by pro-Hamas activists for his unapologetic support of Israel and tough stance against Hamas-lovers at the University if Pennsylvania and other campuses, prompting lefty activists to beg Harris not to select him.
Progressives on X, including New York City Councilman Chi Ossé, have publicly urged Harris not to choose the Jewish pol.
“Madam Vice President @KamalaHarris picking @JoshShapiroPA will harm the momentum that you have with youth voters – anyone but him please,” he urged. Shapiro has also been accused by one statewide Dem of not moving fast enough to address a sexual misconduct complaint against one of his top staffers.
Kelly, by contrast, keeps his fickle Arizona Senate seat safe and blue as long as he remains. Should be leave, it could be easily snatched back by Republicans in the next election cycle.
Insiders says Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer might be loathe to let such a rock-solid asset leave the chamber. A rep for Schumer declined to comment.
Hanging in reserve are North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
While neither state is quite as in play nationally for Democrats as Pennsylvania or Arizona, both men have experience appealing to moderate voters who might be repelled by Harris’ history of far-left policy positions.
Cooper has won six statewide general elections over two decades in reliably red North Carolina, while Beshear could blunt Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance’s appeal with Appalachia voters.