Harris' VP candidates already have camps on Capitol Hill
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Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro during a Biden campaign event in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania on Jan. 5, 2024. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images.
At least three of Vice President Kamala Harris' prospective running mates already have members of their state's congressional delegation pressing their cases from Capitol Hill.
Why it matters: Several lawmakers, eager to see their states represented at the top of the ticket, told Axios they are privately making their argument to the Harris campaign or plan to do so.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
- Rep. Matt Cartwright said he is "just getting started" in urging the Harris campaign to pick Shapiro, saying he has "mentioned it to a few people, I think, low down in the Harris campaign."
- Rep. Susan Wild said in a statement Shapiro would be a "phenomenal" choice, adding: "I have communicated this to the Harris campaign. I do not know if the Governor is interested in the role, but I hope he is for the sake of our country."
- And Rep. Madeleine Dean said she doesn't think it is appropriate to make an endorsement but said Shapiro has been a "superb leader" who often outperforms other Democrats on the same ballot.
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper
- Rep. Kathy Manning said Cooper "would be a great choice," and that "if anybody [from the Harris campaign] asks me, I'm happy to tell them."
- Rep. Jeff Jackson said Cooper is "awesome" and that he is "planning on" making that view known to the Harris campaign.
- Rep. Wiley Nickel said Cooper is "absolutely the best choice that Vice President Harris could make, a very popular governor in a swing state," but suggested he is not actively pushing Cooper to the campaign.
Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly
- Rep. Greg Stanton touted Kelly's record, popularity with independents and Republicans and his ability to raise money, but declined to say whether he would make that case privately to the Harris campaign.
- "Obviously, Arizona is a critical battleground state, so if he were to be selected that would immediately put ... Arizona in a likely winning position," Stanton told Axios in a phone interview.
Between the lines: One other prospective pick, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, is at a disadvantage on this front as his deep red state has just one Democrat, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, in its congressional delegation.
- McGarvey's spokesperson told Axios that the congressman, like his contemporaries in other states, has advocated for Beshear in local media interviews
The other side: Several Republican lawmakers argued that VP picks from their states wouldn't help Democrats the way the party is hoping.
- "I think, no matter what, Trump and Vance are going to win [Pennsylvania] no matter who Democrats put on the ticket, because at this point it's all about the platform," said Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-Pa.).
- Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) said of Cooper: "He's going to try and claim credit for bills that he vetoed for years. And once people learn that record, I think he'll be very unpopular."
Go deeper: Where VP Kamala Harris stands on hot-button issues
