2020 Democratic vice presidential nomination
← 2016 August 11, 2020 (2020-08-11) 2024 →
 
Nominee Kamala Harris
Home state California
Previous Vice Presidential nominee

Tim Kaine

 Vice Presidential nominee

Kamala Harris


2020 U.S. presidential election
Attempts to overturn
Democratic Party
Republican Party
Third parties
Related races
← 2016 2020 2024 →
This article is part of
a series about
Joe Biden
U.S. Senator from Delaware

Elections:

47th Vice President of the United States
Incumbent
Tenure
Presidential campaigns
Vice presidential campaigns
Published works

Joe Biden's signature

Seal of the President of the United States
This article is part of
a series about
Kamala Harris
District Attorney of San Francisco
Attorney General of California
U.S. Senator from California
49th Vice President of the United States
Incumbent
Vice presidential campaigns
Published works

Kamala Harris's signature

This article lists the candidates for the Democratic nomination for Vice President of the United States in the 2020 presidential election. Former Vice President Joe Biden of Delaware, the 2020 Democratic nominee for President of the United States, considered several prominent Democrats and other individuals before selecting Senator Kamala Harris of California as his running mate on August 11, 2020. Harris formally won the vice presidential nomination on August 19, 2020, at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. The Biden–Harris ticket would go on to win the 2020 election, defeating the incumbent Republican ticket of Trump–Pence.

In March 2020, Biden promised to select a woman as his running mate, which marked the third time that the vice presidential nominee of a major party in the United States has been a woman, after Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and Sarah Palin in 2008.

Harris became the vice president upon inauguration in January 2021 alongside President Joe Biden. She is the first woman to be vice president of the United States, making her the highest-ranking woman in U.S. history, and she is also the first Asian American and African American vice president.[1][2]

Selection process

At the March 15, 2020, Democratic primary debate between former Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Biden committed to selecting a woman as his running mate.[3] At that same debate, Sanders stated that he would likely do the same, but did not pledge to do so.[4] Biden became the presumptive presidential nominee after Sanders dropped out on April 8,[5] though the Democratic ticket would not be officially nominated until the 2020 Democratic National Convention in August 2020. With his pledge, his running mate became the third woman to be the vice presidential nominee of a major party in United States history, following Democrat Geraldine Ferraro in 1984 and Republican Sarah Palin in 2008.[6]

Biden indicated that he would make his selection on the basis of shared political beliefs and past experience. He noted that his selection would likely be younger than he is and that he would likely pick someone who is "ready on Day 1 to be president."[7] On April 30, it was announced that the vetting committee would consist of Lisa Blunt Rochester, Chris Dodd, Eric Garcetti, and Cynthia Hogan.[8]

Announcement

Main article: Kamala Harris 2020 presidential campaign § Biden–Harris ticket

Biden had initially planned to make his announcement regarding his running mate selection "around" August 1.[9] The announcement date was later pushed back to the second week in August.[10][11][12] On August 11, it was reported that Biden had selected his running mate and an announcement was imminent.[13]

Later that day, Kamala Harris was revealed as Biden's vice presidential running mate.[14] Harris was the junior U.S. senator from California, first elected in 2016. She additionally has experience as the Attorney General of California, San Francisco District Attorney, and as a prosecutor. Harris was a candidate in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, before suspending her campaign in December 2019, later endorsing Biden's campaign in March 2020. Harris was the third woman vice presidential running mate of a major party and the first Asian American.[15] Harris additionally is the first Democrat from the Western United States to appear on a presidential ticket; Barack Obama was born in Hawaii, a Western state, but was nominated as a representative of Illinois.[16]

Vetting process

Finalists

On August 13, The New York Times reported the four finalists were Kamala Harris, Susan Rice, Elizabeth Warren, and Gretchen Whitmer.[17]

Shortlist

The Biden campaign was reported to have begun the vetting process of potential running mates in May 2020.[23][13] The following officials were reported to have undergone vetting by the Biden campaign.[24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31] However, following the George Floyd protests, Amy Klobuchar was criticized for her lack of prosecution of police misconduct during her tenure as Hennepin County County Attorney, including a case involving the officer who murdered Floyd.[32][33][34] On June 18, she announced that she had removed herself from consideration and urged for Biden to select a woman of color.[35][36]

On June 12, the Associated Press reported that Keisha Lance Bottoms, Val Demings, Kamala Harris, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Susan Rice, and Elizabeth Warren had advanced to further stages in the vetting process, with the possibility that some other vetted candidates had as well.[37] On June 26, CNN reported that Bottoms, Demings, Harris, and Warren were at that point the leading candidates for the nomination.[38]

On July 29, just a week before Biden's initially planned announcement, The Hill reported that Karen Bass, Harris, Rice, and Warren had emerged as the "top tier" of candidates.[39] On August 2, CNN reported that Tammy Duckworth and Gretchen Whitmer were also still under consideration.[40] On August 10, The New York Times reported that Biden's running mate committee had finished interviewing the possible candidates and that an announcement was "imminent".[41]

In addition to the four finalists, the following individuals were reported to be on Biden's shortlist.

Declined to be considered

The following individuals publicly confirmed that they had declined to be vetted by the Biden campaign.

Media speculation about other potential running mates

The following individuals received coverage as potential running mates from multiple news sources, but were not reported to have been asked to undergo vetting by the Biden campaign.

Federal executive branch officials

Members of Congress

Governors

Mayors

Other individuals

Opinion polling

A Siena College/The New York Times poll released on June 26, 2020 found that over 80% of respondents said that race should not be a factor in Biden's selection.[82]

A Politico/Morning Consult poll released on July 15, 2020, found that 54% of respondents felt that Biden's VP pick will not affect their vote, 16% said it would have a major impact, and 20% said only a minor impact.[83]

Vice presidential polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[b]
Stacey Abrams
Tammy Baldwin
Karen Bass
Keisha Lance Bottoms
Catherine Cortez Masto
Val Demings
Tammy Duckworth
Kamala Harris
Amy Klobuchar
Michelle Lujan Grisham
Gina Raimondo
Susan Rice
Elizabeth Warren
Gretchen Whitmer
Others
Undecided
The Economist/YouGov August 2–4, 2020 600 (RV) 6% 1% 1% 3% – 3% 8% 22% – 0% – 11% 21% 3% 3%[c] 19%
Yahoo News/YouGov July 28–30, 2020 1088 (RV) 8% 3% 3% 5% – 4% 6% 25% – 2% 2% 14% 22% 5% – –
Hill-HarrisX July 20–21, 2020 947 (RV) 6% 3% – 3% – 3% 4% 15% – 4% – 12% 16% 4% 30%[d] –
Data for Progress July 20, 2020 538 (RV)[e] 8% 3% 1% 10% – 3% 6% 21% – 2% – 6% 23% 4% – 13%
Yahoo! News/YouGov Jun 9–10, 2020 1288 (RV) 14% – – 6% – 8% – 24% 14% – – – 30% 5% – –
Monmouth Jun 1–9, 2020 2240 (LV) 10% – – 2% – 7% – 28% 12% – – 2% 13% 2% 8%[f] –
Yahoo! News/YouGov May 4–5, 2020 1224 (RV) 11% 5% – – 6% – – 17% 18% – – – 34% 8% – –
Vox May 1, 2020 605 (V) 7% – – – 3% – – 15% 9% – – – 42% 4% – 20%
CBS/YouGov Apr 28–May 1, 2020 1671 (LV) 14% 1% – – 2% 3% 3% 19% 13% 1% – 4% 36% 3% 1%[g] –
Economist/YouGov Apr 26–28, 2020 1222 (RV) 8% 2% – – – – – 9% 7% – – – 15% 2% 13%[h] 44%
Harvard/Harris Apr 14–16, 2020 2394 (RV) – – – – – – – 10% 10% 1% – – 13% 3% 63%[i] –

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Individual is a member of the Republican Party
  2. ^ Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  3. ^ "Someone else" with 3%
  4. ^ Nadja West with 5%; "None of the above / Someone else" with 25%
  5. ^ Poll included only voters not affiliated with a political party.
  6. ^ including Michelle Obama with 3% and Tulsi Gabbard with 1%
  7. ^ Sally Yates with 1%
  8. ^ "Someone else" with 13%
  9. ^ Bernie Sanders with 20%; Andrew Cuomo with 11%; Michael Bloomberg with 8%; Pete Buttigieg with 7%; Tom Steyer with 3%; "Other" with 14%

References

  1. ^ "Key findings about multiracial identity in the U.S. as Harris becomes vice presidential nominee". Pew Research Center. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  2. ^ McEvoy, Jemima. "Kamala Harris Makes History As First Female, Black, Asian American Vice President". Forbes. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Phillips, Amber (March 15, 2020). "Who Are the Women Probably on Joe Biden's Shortlist for Vice President?". The Washington Post.
  4. ^ Viser, Matt; Johnson, Jenna; Scherer, Matt (March 15, 2020). "Biden Pledges He'll Pick a Female Running Mate, Sanders Says He Likely Will in Debate under the Shadow of Coronavirus". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ Ember, Sydney (April 8, 2020). "Bernie Sanders Drops out of 2020 Democratic Race for President". The New York Times.
  6. ^ Armitage, Rebecca; Stein, Lucia (July 30, 2020). "Joe Biden's running mate will be only the third woman to run for VP, but the first with a decent shot of winning". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c Glueck, Katie (March 16, 2020). "Joe Biden Says He Would Choose a Woman as His Running Mate. But Who?". The New York Times.
  8. ^ O'Keefe, Ed (April 30, 2020). "Biden announces running mate vetting committee". CBS News. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  9. ^ Mucha, Sarah (May 27, 2020). "Biden says he hopes to name vice presidential pick around August 1". CNN.
  10. ^ "Biden to name running make in second week of August". The Washington Post. July 31, 2020.
  11. ^ Watson, Kathryn (July 28, 2020). "Biden says he'll have a vice presidential pick next week". CBS News.
  12. ^ Glueck, Katie (August 7, 2020). "Why Joe Biden Keeps Missing His Own V.P. Deadlines". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  13. ^ a b Zeleny, Jeff; Merica, Dan; Saenz, Arlette (August 11, 2020). "Joe Biden selects his running mate with announcement coming as early as Tuesday". CNN.
  14. ^ Zeleny, Jeff; Merica, Dan; Saenz, Arlette (August 11, 2020). "Joe Biden picks Kamala Harris as his running mate". CNN. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  15. ^ Cadelago, Christopher (August 11, 2020). "Biden picks Kamala Harris as VP nominee". Politico. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  16. ^ Wilson, Reid (August 11, 2020). "Kamala Harris makes history — as a Westerner". The Hill.
  17. ^ Burns, Alexander; Martin, Jonathan; Glueck, Katie (August 13, 2020). "How Biden Chose Harris: A Search That Forged New Stars, Friends and Rivalries". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Blake, Aaron (April 8, 2020). "The 11 Most Logical Picks for Joe Biden's Vice President, Ranked". The Washington Post.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i Cillizza, Chris (April 9, 2020). "The Top 10 Women Joe Biden Might Choose as His VP". CNN.
  20. ^ a b c d e f Kearns, Madeleine (May 6, 2020). "Joe Biden's 'Woman'". National Review.
  21. ^ a b Scher, Bill (March 17, 2020). "Biden's Top 12 Running Mates, Ranked". Politico.
  22. ^ a b c Pindell, James (April 22, 2020). "Here Are 3 People Joe Biden Might Be Considering More for His VP as Coronavirus Disrupts American Life". The Boston Globe. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  23. ^ Schneider, Elena (August 10, 2020). "As decision day nears, VP hopefuls rake in big money for Biden". Politico.
  24. ^ Stanage, Niall (May 21, 2020). "The Memo: Activists press Biden on VP choice". The Hill.
  25. ^ Erickson, Bo (May 22, 2020). "Biden asks Amy Klobuchar to undergo vetting as possible running mate". CBS News.
  26. ^ Edelman, Adam (May 22, 2020). "Biden's vice president shortlist emerges, as Demings says she's being vetted". NBC News.
  27. ^ Caputo, Marc (May 17, 2020). "Val Demings' stock rises on VP shortlist". Politico.
  28. ^ DiStaso, John (May 21, 2020). "Both NH senators invited to initial interviews for Biden VP slot; Hassan agrees, Shaheen declines". WMUR9.
  29. ^ Gorecki, Natasha (June 8, 2020). "2 longshots rise in Biden VP search". POLITICO.
  30. ^ Erickson, Bo (June 23, 2020). "Congressional Black Caucus chair Karen Bass being vetted to be Biden running mate". CBS News.
  31. ^ Stieb, Matt (August 14, 2020). "All the Juicy Details About Joe Biden's Vice Presidential Selection Process". Intelligencer. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  32. ^ "Amy Klobuchar didn't prosecute officer at center of George Floyd's death after previous conduct complaints". www.theweek.com. May 28, 2020. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  33. ^ "Amy Klobuchar Criticized for Declining to Prosecute Police Shootings as Minnesota County Attorney". Complex. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  34. ^ "Amy Klobuchar missed chance to prosecute Minneapolis cop now at center of George Floyd death". The Washington Times. May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  35. ^ Epstein, Reid J. (June 18, 2020). "Klobuchar Withdraws as Candidate to Be Biden's Running Mate". The New York Times.
  36. ^ LeBlanc, Paul (June 18, 2020). "Amy Klobuchar drops out of Biden VP contention and says he should choose a woman of color". CNN.
  37. ^ Barrow, Bill; Pace, Julie (June 12, 2020). "Biden's VP list narrows: Warren, Harris, Susan Rice, others". Associated Press. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  38. ^ Zeleny, Jeff; Merica, Dan (June 26, 2020). "Nation's reckoning on race looms large over final month of Biden's running mate search". CNN.
  39. ^ Parnes, Amie (July 29, 2020). "VP hopefuls jockey for position as Biden's final decision nears". The Hill.
  40. ^ Reston, Maeve (August 2, 2020). "Top Biden VP contenders face sexist tropes, intense scrutiny in final stretch". CNN.
  41. ^ "Biden's V.P. Pick Is Said to Be Imminent". The New York Times. August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
  42. ^ a b Nichols, John (July 21, 2020). "Progressives Have a VP Short list: Barbara Lee, Nina Turner, Karen Bass". The Nation. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  43. ^ a b Gray, Madison J. (March 13, 2020). "8 Black Women Who Make Awesome Vice Presidents for Biden/Sanders". BET. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  44. ^ Smith, Chris (July 17, 2020). "Inside the Final Days of Joe Biden's VP Choice". Vanity Fair. Vanity Fair. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  45. ^ Korecki, Natasha; Caputo, Marc (March 17, 2020). "Biden Squeezed on His Most Critical Decision: His VP Pick". Politico.
  46. ^ a b c Merica, Dan; Saenz, Arlette; Mucha, Sarah (March 16, 2020). "Joe Biden Said He Would Pick a Woman as His Running Mate. Here's Who Could Be on His List". CNN.
  47. ^ "Cortez Masto bows out of consideration to be Biden's running mate citing Nevada's economic crisis". The Nevada Independent. May 28, 2020.
  48. ^ "Sen. Shaheen tells Biden campaign she does not want to be vetted for VP". The Hill. May 22, 2020.
  49. ^ Frostenson, Sarah; Silver, Nate; Skelley, Geoffrey; Malone, Clare (February 13, 2019). "Our Very First 2020 Vice Presidential Draft". FiveThirtyEight.
  50. ^ Tolliver, Sandy (February 1, 2020). "Is Hillary Clinton Angling to Become Vice President?". The Hill.
  51. ^ Rauch, Jonathan (May 5, 2020). "Why Not Janet?". The Atlantic. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  52. ^ a b c Rafael, Bernal (March 17, 2020). "Five Latinas Who Could Be Biden's Running Mate". The Hill.
  53. ^ Laurence Kotlikoff (June 8, 2020). "Joe Biden's ideal VP is Condoleezza Rice". The Hill. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  54. ^ Junkins, Casey (May 27, 2020). "OPINION: Movement in the 'Veepstakes'". Capital Journal. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  55. ^ a b Larsen, Emily (March 16, 2020). "List: Twelve Women Joe Biden Could Pick as His Running Mate". Washington Examiner.
  56. ^ Cupp, S. E. (April 29, 2020). "Are We Going to Talk about Tara Reade?". Chicago Sun-Times.
  57. ^ Sherman, Jake; Palmer, Anna (February 24, 2020). "Politico Playbook: Playbookers Suggest Running Mates for Bernie as D.C. Dems Panic". Politico. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  58. ^ Dovere, Isaac-Edward (April 21, 2019). "The Last Kennedy". The Atlantic.
  59. ^ Nwanevu, Osita (February 14, 2020). "The Hardest Decision Bernie Sanders Will Make This Year". The New Republic. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
  60. ^ Nichols, John (July 3, 2020). "Barbara Lee Would Make a Great Vice Presidential Nominee". The Nation. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  61. ^ @BLeeForCongress (July 6, 2020). "I'm humbled and honored by this article. While I work to fight for progressive change in Congress, there's no better time than now for us to send a Black woman Vice President to the White House" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  62. ^ Axelrod, Tal (July 2, 2020). "Nina Turner addresses Biden's search for a running mate". The Hill. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  63. ^ Downie, James (June 28, 2020). "The woman Biden isn't considering for vice president, but should". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 29, 2020.
  64. ^ Thompson, Alex; Otterbein, Holly (April 15, 2020). "Progressive Movement Wary of Warren for VP". Politico. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  65. ^ Sprayregen, Molly (March 16, 2020). "8 Women Joe Biden Should Seriously Consider for Veep". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  66. ^ Phillips, Steve (March 16, 2020). "The Vice Presidential Nominee Should Be a Woman of Color". The Nation. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  67. ^ Siders, David (May 19, 2020). "Biden Campaign Pressed on Latina VP Prospects". Politico. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
  68. ^ Jeremy Scahill; Ryan Grim (March 15, 2020). "A Biden-Sanders Ticket: The Unthinkable May Be the Only Path Forward". The Intercept. Retrieved March 27, 2020.
  69. ^ Kondik, Kyle; Coleman, J. Miles; Sabato, Larry J. (June 4, 2020). "The Veepstakes: Handicapping Biden's Choices". Sabato's Crystal Ball.
  70. ^ Moseley, Brandon (April 29, 2020). "Sewell getting national attention as possible VP pick". Alabama Political Reporter.
  71. ^ McLaughlin, Dan (April 23, 2020). "Why Joe Biden Might Choose Terri Sewell for Vice President". National Review.
  72. ^ Messamore, W.E. (January 4, 2020). "5 Women Bernie Sanders Might Pick for V.P. If He's Nominated in 2020". CCN Markets.
  73. ^ Levine, Jon (April 4, 2020). "Andrew Cuomo Supporters Quietly Angling Him for 2020 Vice President Gig". New York Post. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  74. ^ Goldstein, Joel K. (December 12, 2019). "The Democratic Vice Presidential Derby: Look Beyond the 2020 Contenders". University of Virginia Center for Politics.
  75. ^ Crabtree, Susan (June 6, 2020). "Black Women Now Top Biden's VP Shortlist". Real Clear Politics.
  76. ^ Chat, FiveThirtyEight (February 13, 2019). "Our Very First 2020 Vice Presidential Draft". FiveThirtyEight.
  77. ^ Cillizza, Chris (March 2, 2020). "What's Pete Buttigieg going to do next?". CNN.
  78. ^ Menon, Vinay (March 4, 2020). "After Super Tuesday, Joe Biden should consider Pete Buttigieg for VP". The Star.
  79. ^ Trudo, Hanna (October 10, 2019). "Warren's Been Talking to Gillum, Sparking VP Buzz". The Daily Beast. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  80. ^ Axelrod, Tal (June 11, 2020). "Stacey Abrams says she hasn't heard from Biden campaign about VP search". The Hill.
  81. ^ "2020 Power Ranking: Which Democrat Gets the Vice-President Nomination?". The Washington Post.
  82. ^ Burns, Alexander; Glueck, Katie (June 26, 2020). "Biden Is Getting a Lot of Advice on His V.P. Here's What Voters Think". Politico. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  83. ^ Schneider, Elena (July 15, 2020). "Poll: Majority of voters say Biden's VP won't factor in 2020 vote". www.politico.com. Politico. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
Categories