Who are the main candidates to run as Donald Trump’s VP?

After it became clear that former Vice President Mike Pence would not seek another term with former President Trump, the race was on to see who would be selected to accompany the GOP candidate on the November ballot. This search has sparked a flurry of interest within the party, with many individuals vying for the job. While there has been much speculation over potential candidates, the campaign has yet to publicize a short or long list.

Former US Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, who ran against Trump in the primaries, was considered a good choice as a running mate for the former president. Amb. Haley, who also served as governor of South Carolina, has staunch conservative views but is seen as a more moderate force than Trump, which could attract more voters to the GOP ticket in November. However, any idea of running with Haley has been tossed out the window by Trump, who sees her run in the primaries as a sign of disloyalty to him. In May on Truth Social, Donald Trump posted, “Nikki Haley is not under consideration for the V.P. slot, but I wish her well!”

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was thought to be under consideration. However, after facing significant public backlash after the release of her autobiography, she is unlikely to be selected for the job. In the book, Governor Noem told the story of a family dog that she killed because she argued that it was a threat to her family and livestock. The story was meant to show that she could make tough decisions, but in the end, it made her look heartless and cruel, and it did not help that the book contained events that had never transpired, including a supposed meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jung Un. Since the book controversy unfolded, Gov. Noem has continued to serve as a communications surrogate for the campaign.

Who remains on the vice presidential list?

While numerous GOP leaders would like to run with Donald Trump, the campaign must strategically consider who will likely attract more voters to their cause. For instance, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, a more moderate voice in the party and a Black politician, could potentially help the Republicans to attract minorities who have historically voted for Democrats in high numbers. This strategic consideration is crucial, as Gallup reported in 2020 that since 2000, only around nine percent of Black voters had cast a ballot for a Republican presidential candidate.

Another possible VP nominee could be Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, who is currently in hot water for comments he made about how Black families lived under the Jim Crow regime of racial segregation. Democrats have accused Con. Donalds argued that life was better for Black families under Jim Crow, but he rejected this description of his words and spoke with CNN’s Abby Philips about the controversial clip. Con. Donalds defends himself by saying that his mention of the Jim Crow era was not meant to glorify the system of racial terror that Black people lived under but to call attention to a comparably higher percentage of Black families that stuck together.

First-term Ohio Senator JD Vance could also be selected to run with Donald Trump. Though he has not been in national politics for long, he has proven himself as a Trump loyalist, and as an Ohioan, he could help attract votes from other Midwesterners.

If the Trump campaign opts for a woman to accompany him on the ticket, New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is speculated to be on the list. Con. Stefanik now serves in the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives. Kari Lake, the Arizona TV personality defeated in the state’s race for governor in 2022, is also seen as a possible choice based on her pro-Trump bona fides.