Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris' vice presidential search has been officially narrowed down to two candidates, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, according to Reuters.
On Monday afternoon, Reuters reported that three sources with knowledge of the matter said candidates will be informed on Monday night if they were selected. Harris, President Joe Biden's vice president, is expected to announce her selection by Tuesday when she's scheduled to make her first public appearance with her running mate that night at Temple University in Philadelphia.
Harris and her running mate will then hit six more cities in five days, all located in crucial swing states: Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Detroit, Michigan; Durham, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; Phoenix, Arizona; and Las Vegas, Nevada, Reuters reported.
Newsweek has emailed the Harris campaign, along with the offices of Shapiro and Waltz, on Monday afternoon for comment.
On Monday afternoon, Harris campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz looked to quell any reports or rumors that an official decision has been made.
"We understand the excitement and interest here, but VP Harris has made no decision on a running mate yet!" Munoz posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Harris' search for a running mate began swiftly after Biden withdrew from the race on July 21 and endorsed his vice president to replace him.
On the eve of Harris' highly anticipated vice presidential pick, Shapiro and Waltz saw a significant boost in their odds, according to recent betting markets.
The two governors emerged as the frontrunners in the latest odds released by online sportsbook BetOnline.ag.
Shapiro, who was the clear favorite just 48 hours ago with 1/5 (-500) odds, now stands at -185, while Walz has made a surprising leap to +190, a stark improvement from his previous 16/1 odds.
Heading into Monday, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly was also believed to be a top contender for the position. CNN's M.J. Lee reported Monday afternoon that Kelly, along with Shapiro and Walz, "remains in the running," though Harris was focusing on Shapiro and Waltz.
Shapiro, 51, would bring obvious benefits to Harris' ticket as the governor of a major swing state, and he may appeal to some more conservative voters for things like his recent push to lower corporate taxes in Pennsylvania.
Shapiro also has progressive support as he is seen as a voice for the "common man." When he was Pennsylvania's attorney general, he took on lenders at the private equity company Warburg Pincus. He led the lawsuit, which includes multiple states, against the firm, which was accused of leading consumers into a cycle of debt by charging them for hidden add-on products.
However, some Democrats may have a problem with Shapiro's stance on Israel, as he has been vocal about his support of its right to defend itself since the start of the Israel-Hamas war after the Palestinian militant group launched its deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023 that saw around 1,200 people killed and about 250 taken hostage, many of whom are still in Gaza.
Walz, 60, may offer more appeal to the left, as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, have backed him. He has also reportedly caught Harris' eye with his attacks on the Republican ticket—former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance.
But the state he brings with him, Minnesota, is only considered a "second tier" battleground state. While the margins of Democratic victory have often been narrow, the state has consistently voted Democrat, last voting Republican during former President Richard Nixon's landslide victory in 1972.
Shapiro and Walz were among six who were interviewed over the weekend, according to "two people with knowledge of Harris' selection process" who spoke to the Associated Press. The others were reportedly Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Kelly.
Harris' vetting team was led by former attorney general Eric Holder, whose law firm Covington & Burling LLP scrutinized the finances and background of potential running mates, according to Reuters. Harris is also receiving advice from her husband, Doug Emhoff, brother-in-law Tony West, along with a handful of aides and advisers, Reuters reported Monday.
Update 8/5/24, 4:42 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with a quote from Harris campaign spokesperson Kevin Munoz.
Update 8/5/24, 3:47 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 8/5/24, 1:44 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
About the writer
Gabe Whisnant is a Breaking News Editor at Newsweek based in North Carolina. Prior to joining Newsweek in 2023, he ... Read more