IT'S MATING SEASON With Democrats largely united around Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential nomination candidacy, lawmakers have shifted to discussing the rest of the ticket — and some are talking directly to her campaign. Among House Democrats, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro are getting the most chatter, based on interviews with a dozen lawmakers. But they are generally giving the vice president a wide berth to make her own choice, with few drawing any red lines for the pick. Aside from Kelly and Shapiro, other names floating among Hill Democrats largely track with those that have been publicly reported to be on Harris’ shortlist, including North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Whether Harris’ team actually takes the advice of Hill Democrats remains to be seen, but many lawmakers want to make their preferences known publicly and privately. Harris won’t have long to decide on a running mate, with the DNC pushing to complete the nomination process by Aug. 7 through a virtual roll call. The view from the left: Leading liberals aren’t weighing in any specific candidates yet. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the Progressive Caucus chair, said that she wanted “somebody that is a good progressive with strong labor union credentials — somebody that comes from some of the Midwestern states that we need to make sure we win.” And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) said that what was most important was remaining “a strong unified party and making sure that we have a vice presidential pick that remains and helps maintain that.” We’ll note that a potential roadblock for Kelly on the left was resolved Wednesday when he backed a key piece of pro-union legislation. The “tri-caucus” weighs in: The three affinity caucuses — the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus — generally tend to push for diversity on any ticket. In this case, the chairs each said they are good with whomever Harris picks. “The fact that she is the first Black Asian woman nominee for president is enormous,” CAPAC Chair Judy Chu (D-Calif.) said when asked about the predominantly male VP shortlist. “And so I think my eye is on the prize, making sure that she gets elected.” “I trust the vice president to make that decision,” said CHC Chair Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.). And CBC Chair Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) said he wants to see “someone who will help us win in November.” The favorite sons: Many showed a home-state bias when weighing in on Harris’ shortlist. North Carolinians have been pushing Cooper, whom Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) praised as a “very popular governor in a swing state where he’s won it twice at the same time as Trump — not many can say that.” “I think it would be good for the country and good for the state particularly,” said Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.). Some Pennsylvanians are strongly advocating for Shapiro, whom swing-district Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-Pa.) praised for his potential appeal across the “blue wall” states. “We've got to win Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, as well,” he said. “And you could do a lot worse than Gov. Shapiro.” But Midwesterners have their own potential sleeper candidates. Some members of the Illinois delegation are talking up their governor, JB Pritzker. “He would be a great choice,” said Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.). Meanwhile, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D-Minn.), a former high school teacher and House member who has piqued the interest of some progressives, is being pushed hard by his home-state delegation. “He would be just a great, great addition to a ticket,” said Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), who said she’d advocated directly to Harris’ campaign. “He can supervise a lunch room. He was a master sergeant. He was well respected and beloved here in the House. And he's been a fabulous governor.” — Nicholas Wu and Daniella Diaz
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