Progressives urge Harris to consider Beshear, Walz for VP, not Shapiro

A group of progressive leaders is urging likely Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris to consider Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) or Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) as her running mate and rule out Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), as the party seeks to consolidate its base ahead of November.

Close to 50 progressive leaders hailing from states ranging from California to Kentucky — including the originator of the coalition efforts, California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus Chair Emeritus Amar Shergill — signed onto a letter released Tuesday telling Harris that they “whole-heartedly” endorsed her campaign while noting that “it is difficult to overstate the importance of your decision in selecting a Vice-Presidential running mate.”

“The correct vice presidential candidate can build on the amazing momentum you have established or set us back, especially among hard-to-reach, young, and disenfranchised voters,” the progressive leaders wrote in the letter, which was first shared with The Hill. “With the compressed timeline ahead of us to defeat the Trump-Vance-MAGA threat, we simply cannot afford any setbacks.”

The progressives made the case for Walz and Beshear, saying the two are “persuasive advocates for core Democratic values and will energize voters across America without marginalizing any of the communities that we must engage in order to win the electoral college.” 

The letter noted in particular that they both “represent and connect with” rural areas and would be the “perfect candidates” to allow the party to bring those voters back into the fold in November. 

At the same time, the progressive argued that while Shapiro is a “valued member of the Democratic coalition,” he has become known for his “shortcomings as a national candidate,” including “controversial policy decisions” like his backing of school vouchers.

While Shapiro has indeed backed school vouchers, he’s also noted that it’s “very important that we fully fund public education,” according to Spotlight PA. The governor’s office touted the “the largest increase in K-12 basic education funding in Pennsylvania history” in its 2023-2024 budget. 

“Choosing Tim Walz or Andy Beshear as Vice-President Kamala Harris’ running mate will invigorate the nation by rallying all of our diverse communities, especially young voters, public education advocates, and the working class,” California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus Chair Fatima Iqbal-Zubair said in a statement. 

“Both governors have proven track records of delivering results for communities who typically feel left behind,” she continued. “By selecting either Walz or Beshear, we can ensure that the Harris campaign continues its tremendous momentum, strengthening our coalition and securing a Democratic victory in November. This VP choice represents a powerful step towards unifying and energizing the electorate.”

Harris’s campaign is in the midst of choosing her running mate as Democrats prepare for their national convention next month. Shapiro, Beshear and Walz are among those in the mix being vetted in addition to others like Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.). 

Democrats are hoping to use the “veepstakes” as an opportunity to appeal to a broader tent of Democrats and other key voting blocs. One ABC News/Ipsos poll released this month showed Kelly seen as the most favorable among other floated vice presidential picks.