Vice President Kamala Harris is having a good month. She's leading former President Donald Trump in the polls after setting fundraising records, making appearances on "RuPaul's Drag Race" and taking over social media.
She's also close to making her decision on who will win the veepstakes. It's a decision that could continue her presidential campaign's momentum. Harris is supposed to announce her running mate before a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday. There’s no official short list, but a handful of candidates across the country are in the process of being vetted.
Whoever Harris picks will determine whether the campaign leans into her more progressive stances or tries to appeal to moderates in the party. As someone who wants to see the Dems move toward the future, I hope her eventual pick is someone with whom she can champion bold, progressive ideas.
Democrats are at an inflection point. If they really intend to move the party forward − and win over young, disaffected voters in the process − they can set themselves up for success in November. Given the enthusiasm she's earned over the past few weeks, I think it's time for the Democratic Party to embrace change and, for once, try something other than appealing to the middle.
We'll know soon enough what Harris wants.
Progressives want Kamala Harris to pick Tim Walz
For progressive voters, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is someone to be excited about. It even seems that Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., is a fan.
Last year, with a Democratic majority in both chambers of the Minnesota Legislature, Walz codified the right to abortion into law, signed off on universal free school meals, legalized recreational marijuana and restored voting rights for formerly incarcerated people.
Not to mention, he’s the one who started the recent phenomenon of calling Republicans “weird.”
Who will Harris pick for VP?Republicans, pay attention to who Harris picks for VP. One of them should scare us.
Choosing Walz would be an inspired choice that would solidify Harris’ standing with progressives, and his Midwestern sensibilities would be perfect for taking on Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance.
He’s also the strongest choice when it comes to abortion rights, an issue that the Harris campaign is putting at the forefront. If Harris picks Walz, it will signal to the rest of the party that the younger faction is determined to be more progressive than the current iteration of the party.
Andy Beshear is a middle-of-the-road choice
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear is another option that could take on Vance and mobilize a part of the country Democrats traditionally struggle with. Beshear has done what he could as a Democratic governor in a red state and won reelection by focusing on the abortion rights battle. Like Walz, he reinstated voting rights for formerly incarcerated people.
While Beshear isn't where progressives want him to be on abortion − he often chooses to emphasize the most extreme reasons for needing one, and his lieutenant governor pick has described herself as pro-life − he proved that reproductive freedom is a winning issue for Democrats no matter the state.
Mark Kelly would complement Harris, but he isn't progressive enough
U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona is, according to multiple polls, the most well-known of Harris’ short list. The former astronaut and husband of former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who suffered a head injury in a 2011 mass shooting, is a vocal supporter of commonsense gun laws. He’s also taken Trump to task over the failed bipartisan immigration reform bill from earlier this year.
On the other hand, Kelly failed to co-sponsor a crucial piece of legislation that would have made it easier for workers to unionize – that is, until he was added to the VP short list.
Of all the candidates, Kelly is the one I’m most on the fence about. His strength on the border complements Harris’ shortfalls, but his failure to support the Protecting the Right to Organize Act is definitely disappointing. He’d be a fine choice, but not someone I’d be ecstatic over.
Trump does love racism:Trump's lazy racism against Harris won't earn him votes. He already has racists in the bag.
Choosing Josh Shapiro signals an attempt to compromise
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has been criticized for his response to the pro-Palestinian protests earlier this year.
Shapiro, who is Jewish, has said that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a “terrible leader” but has also compared some pro-Palestinian protesters to theKu Klux Klan.
Unfortunately, those aren’t the only issues with the Pennsylvania governor. He’s also a supporter of school choice voucher programs – a traditionally conservative idea. He’s also been accused by some in his home state of staying silent on a sexual harassment investigation last year of a former aide.
On the other hand, Shapiro could help Democrats win Pennsylvania, one of the most important battleground states this election cycle. Picking him would be a sign that the party is still trying to appeal to centrists instead of being bold. As someone invested in this country's future, I would find that disappointing.
Then there is the VP candidate who will never be ☹
Apropos of political leanings, I am still a little sad that North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper withdrew his name from the veepstakes. Cooper may not be particularly progressive, but he has a moderate liberal record that I think would do well with the majority of Americans.
Sadly, it means that the rest of the country will lose out on seeing the Andy Griffith costume Cooper wears on Halloween – but it probably means he’s eyeing a 2026 Senate run.
Harris doesn't need to ruin the momentum she has built in the early days of her presidential campaign. She's already garnering enough support to pull ahead of the polls and make up for lost time. Democrats should pick someone who is thinking about the future of the party and the future of the country.
Harris needs to keep rallying her base and energizing young voters. The wrong choice could haunt her on Election Day.
Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno
