With Vice President Kamala Harris having secured enough endorsements to be the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, focus has shifted to her potential running mate.

One name being vetted is Kentucky’s Gov. Andy Beshear.

Beshear headlined a Harris campaign event in Atlanta on Sunday, July 28. He appeared that morning in Forsyth County to a crowd of hundreds to give another pitch on behalf of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. 

Beshear leaned into discussing unity amongst Americans.

“We win by staying true to our values of compassion, of empathy, of doing right by our neighbors…” Beshear said during his speech. “We win by caring and fighting for every single vote in every single county.” 

He went on to call the vice president tough and smart, but also kind and empathetic. He said he believed these qualities would make Harris an “absolutely great president.” 

Beshear spoke of the high stakes of this year’s election and how much is “on the line,” regarding women’s rights and control of the House and Senate, aligning with the main message of the Harris campaign. 

Following Biden’s drop from the 2024 presidential election, Beshear, in a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, thanked the current president for his kindness, support following the tornadoes and floods that devastated the Commonwealth and for a “successful presidency that got big, important things done.” 

The next morning, July 22, Beshear appeared on MSNBC to further discuss his thoughts on Biden’s presidential race exit, his endorsement of Kamala Harris and what his place in politics will look like as election day nears. 

Beshear said in the interview that it is “flattering” to be mentioned in discussions surrounding Vice President Harris’ selection of a running mate.

“I take it as a compliment though to what we’ve done in Kentucky. What we’ve done in Kentucky is what we need to do in this country,” Beshear said. “To move beyond the partisanship, the constant arguing. Get beyond neighbors yelling at other neighbors just because of the box they checked when they registered to vote.”

The focus of politics right now, Beshear said, should be on good jobs, healthcare, safe infrastructure, public safety and public education: “the most important things to our families.”

During the interview with MSNBC, the governor said he would listen if called upon to discuss the possibility of being Harris’ running mate, but gave no definitive answer as to whether or not he would accept the position.

“The only way I would consider something other than this current job is if I could further help my people and to help this country,” Beshear said.

Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman spoke in Louisville Monday morning where she said she would be “ready to become governor should Beshear get the nod for VP.” 

Harris is not the official Democratic nominee for the Nov. 5 election, according to NPR, though no other candidate has said they will run against her.

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) will be held in Chicago from August 19-22. During the first week of August, a virtual roll call will be held to secure the nomination for the Democratic Party. Before July 21, the roll call was meant to cement support for then-presidential nominee, Biden.

According to the Associated Press Democratic Delegate survey, Harris has been endorsed by enough delegates to secure the nomination come voting time. All elected delegates will cast their votes for the candidate they wish to be the official nominee for the ballot in the general election at the DNC.

The convention will press on with Vice President Harris as the presumptive nominee acting in all, but official title until August 22nd.

If not Beshear… Who? 

Over the course of the last week, according to ABC, Harris asked possible running mates to submit vetting documents, furthering the process of narrowing her selection.

Another name circulating is U.S. Senator for Arizona, Mark Kelly, a former astronaut and Navy captain who won his seat in the Senate during a 2020 special election following the death of Sen. John McCain, according to the senator’s website. 

When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Kelly released a statement standing behind the women of Arizona. Similarly to Harris, Kelly vowed to “defend and protect” women’s health care rights. 

Pennsylvania’s Governor, Josh Shapiro, is also a name buzzing the nation’s ears as Harris continues her campaign. According to the National Governors Association (NGA), Shapiro took the position as the attorney general for Pennsylvania, a swing state, in 2017 until he was elected governor in 2022.

Shapiro is another possible running mate who has vocalized his efforts to protect the freedom of healthcare autonomy. According to the governor’s website, Shapiro “is working to expand access to quality, affordable healthcare.”

The 75th governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, is another notable possibility. Before serving his second term as governor, Cooper served as majority leader in the North Carolina State House and Senate as well as state attorney general for four terms, according to the governor’s website.

In May 2023, Cooper vetoed a 12-week abortion ban bill in his state. However, the general assembly overturned his veto to pass the bill according to the Associated Press.

Harris can announce her running mate at any time, but she will need to have established her running mate by the conclusion of the DNC.