Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden said on July 28 he will choose his Vice Presidential running mate next week. The former Vice President’s comment came during a news conference after a speech in Wilmington, Delaware. Asked by CNN whether he will meet in person with finalists for the role, Biden said, “We’ll see.” Biden has said he will choose a female running mate, and has faced pressure within the party to choose a woman of color. His campaign’s vetting process has played out amid the Coronavirus pandemic, making meetings that could allow Biden to better get to know those being considered more difficult. Noting that news crews were stationed outside his home in Delaware, Biden joked that he is “going to try to figure out how to trick you all so I can meet with them in person.” “I don’t think it matters, actually,” he said.
Shortly after clinching the Democratic nomination, Joe Biden had targeted the beginning of August to select a running mate. On July 28, he said the selection will come in the first week of August. His comments on July 28 did not indicate when Biden will publicly announce his selection. But it is all but certain he will do so before the Democratic National Convention kicks off August 17 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In recent Presidential elections, both major parties have announced their running mate selection roughly a few weeks before the nominating convention. For example, Barack Obama selected Joe Biden as his running mate several days before the 2008 Democratic National Convention and Mitt Romney in 2012 selected Paul Ryan as his running mate two weeks prior to the Republican National Convention. Additionally, Donald Trump selected Mike Pence as his running mate several weeks prior to the 2016 Republican National Convention. Due to the uncertainties surrounding the 2020 Democratic National Convention, Joe Biden’s running mate selection has occurred later than in prior election cycles
There are several individuals on Joe Biden’s running mate shortlist. Two of the leading contenders are California Senator Kamala Harris and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. Both Harris and Warren were rival candidates in the 2020 Democratic primaries who ultimately endorsed Biden. Other individuals on Biden’s shortlist include former Obama administration national security advisor Susan Rice, Florida Congresswoman Val Demmings, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, 2018 Georgia Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Stacy Abrams, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, California Congresswoman Karen Bass, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth, and Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin. Out of the candidates on the shortlist, all indications thus far indicate that Joe Biden is likely leaning toward Kamala Harris as his running mate barring any unforeseen changes.
