Schumer's dream veepstakes

1. Schumer's Senate Democratic caucus will remain intact, killing fears of a complicated special election in a battleground state in the coming years.
2. Senate Democrats will have a chance to recruit popular North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper — who was in the VP conversation — for a run in 2026.
3. Walz on the ticket in November boosts the chances of Schumer's Senate candidates in the state and broader Midwest.

The big picture: Schumer will breathe a sigh of relief that Vice President Kamala Harris didn't dip into the talent pool of Senate Democrats for her running mate.

• Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Az.) was a finalist for the VP job, but losing him would have forced a special election for his seat in 2026. It's unlikely the party would've found a non-incumbent candidate with a better chance than Kelly of keeping the seat blue.
• Speaking of 2026, Democratic sources told Axios that Schumer should prioritize recruiting Cooper to run for Senate in two years, when Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) is up for reelection. Local reports have suggested that Cooper would be open to the idea of running for Senate.

Between the lines: Walz on the ticket could help Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), who are up for re-election this year in key Midwestern states.

• Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) is looking to keep Michigan's seat blue for her party.

The bottom line: The injection of enthusiasm into the Democratic Party with Harris becoming the nominee and President Biden leaving the race is a welcome sight for Schumer and Senate Democrats.