Who will Kamala Harris pick for her potential vice president?

The National takes a look at who might join the Democratic ticket in race for the White House

Vice President Kamala Harris is the presumed Democratic nominee for the November presidential elections, but questions remain over who she will choose as her running mate, if she receives the nomination as expected.

Ever since President Joe Biden endorsed her as his replacement on the ticket, major donors have poured money into her campaign, which has reportedly raised more than $200 million so far.

Mark Kelly

The Arizona senator has been raised as one of the possibilities. The former US Navy pilot and astronaut was elected to the Senate in 2020.

He is the husband of former congresswoman Gabby Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt in 2012.

Senator Mark Kelly speaks during a committee hearing in Washington in 2022. Bloomberg

Arizona is a crucial swing state, and Mr Kelly's sympathetic personal story and his military background make him something of a foil to Donald Trump's vice presidential choice, JD Vance.

Axios reported on Wednesday, however, that the Harris campaign is pressing donors to cut their cheques quickly, pointing to a financial rule that bans contributions to tickets featuring a sitting governor, leading some to conclude that a governor will be chosen as her running mate.

Andy Beshear

The two-term governor from Kentucky and rising star in the Democratic Party is another possibility.

He helped to steer his state through the pandemic and two major natural disasters, and also expanded healthcare access for tens of thousands.

Mr Beshear has, however, faced an uphill battle against the state's Republican-controlled legislature since taking office.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. AP

Endorsing Ms Harris on Monday, Mr Beshear said she would help the country “move on to something better”.

Josh Shapiro

The governor of Pennsylvania previously served as his state's attorney general. He easily won the governorship after handily beating a Trump-endorsed candidate.

Mr Shapiro, who is Jewish, has aggressively confronted what he viewed as anti-Semitism from pro-Palestinian demonstrations and has professed solidarity with Israel in its drive to eliminate Hamas.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has served as his state's attorney general. AP

Pennsylvania is another swing state, and having him on side could help Mr Harris clinch the votes she needs to win.

Tim Walz

The Minnesota governor was a later add-on to the list of possible running mates.

During Mr Walz's time in office, he has focused on protecting reproductive and voting rights, as well as promoting clean energy.

He broke into the political limelight recently when his description of Donald Trump and JD Vance went viral. “That stuff is weird, they come across weird,” Mr Walz told MSNBC.

Tim Walz speaks at a Biden-Harris campaign and DNC press conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Getty Images / AFP

While Ms Harris is bringing deep-blue, coastal California energy to the campaign trail, Politico cited one Democrat from Minnesota who described Mr Walz as a “guy you would meet at a backyard barbecue in the Midwest”.

JB Pritzker

The governor of Illinois was a strong Biden campaign surrogate but was quick to endorse Ms Harris when the President left the race.

Mr Pritzker has been an advocate of reproductive rights and opposed book bans against black history and gay rights.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during an event in Chicago. Getty Images / AFP

Hailing from the family that founded the Hyatt hotel chain, Mr Pritzker was a businessman before he entered politics and founded several venture capital and investment start-ups.

Other names that have been floated include Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg and California Governor Gavin Newsom, although it could prove problematic that he and Ms Harris have residency in the state.

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer have announced their withdrawal from consideration.