Kamala Harris’ VP options: Astronaut? Governor? Cabinet member?

As US Vice-President Kamala Harris consolidates support among Democrats to become the party’s 2024 presidential nominee, a key question dominates the political conversation: who would be her running mate?

There is widespread consensus that Harris, of Jamaican and Indian descent, would pick a straight, white man – a strategic move in a nation that has never elected a woman, much less a woman of colour, as its leader.

Among the elected officials reportedly in contention are governors Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, and Andy Beshear of Kentucky, as well as Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.

Some have mentioned the prospect of Harris selecting California Governor Gavin Newsom as her No 2, but the 12th Amendment of the Constitution prohibits running mates from residing in the same state.

And the imagery of two leaders whose political careers were forged in San Francisco would provide unending fodder for conservatives who have long used the city as shorthand for liberal policies leading to dysfunction and disaster.

The timeline for Harris to make her selection is short – the Democratic National Convention begins in less than four weeks in Chicago. The strategic calculation for her pick is also different than in traditional presidential campaigns, when candidates often select a running mate to shore up weaknesses in their resumes.