With the Republican National Convention coming up next month, Donald Trump has indicated that he has decided on a running mate and that he would announce it at the RNC. Many ambitious Republicans have shown their unsaid eagerness to fulfill this role, as demonstrated by their presence at Trump’s rallies, and even at his Manhattan trial. The list of potential veeps has been narrowed down to four frontrunners – all of whom have been contacted by the Trump campaign according to mainstream media
Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio
The venture capitalist made his debut on the national stage with his 2016 book Hillbilly Elegy, detailing his upbringing in suburban Ohio and his family’s Appalachian values. It was an instant bestseller, drawing attention from the media amid the 2016 election. It even landed a 2020 movie adaptation on Netflix.
A former never-Trumper, Vance changed his tune upon announcing his candidacy for the Ohio Senate seat in the 2022 midterm elections. He won that seat comfortably and evolved into a staunch Trump defender, contrasting from most of his fellow Republican colleagues who were skeptics of the former President. Vance has made appearances at Trump rallies and at his Manhattan trial and has espoused the same views on immigration and trade as Trump does.
Although he fulfills Trump’s requirements for a loyalist VP, Vance lacks significant political experience, only having served a little more than one year into his Senate term. His appearance on the ticket with Trump would not add much weight, considering Ohio’s evolution from a once-competitive battleground state into a red state. Vance has said he would be of better use to a future Trump administration in the Senate but has not ruled out being his running mate.
Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota
Burgum, a former entrepreneur who sold his software company to Microsoft for more than a billion dollars in 2001, was elected governor of North Dakota in 2016. He now ranks among the nation’s wealthiest governors, with an estimated net worth of $100 million according to Forbes. With his second term coming to a close, the term-limited governor launched a bid for the Republican presidential nomination. His performances at the primary debates and on the campaign trail failed to gain traction, leading to his eventual dropping out and endorsement of Trump. Burgum’s selection as Trump’s running mate would not bring much weight to the ticket. Trump’s former vice president, Mike Pence, attracted support from evangelicals. Burgum’s lack of a natural constituency would not be beneficial to a Trump ticket. Additionally, Burgum’s relative obscurity and lack of name recognition would not be particularly exciting for the Republican base. On the upside, Burgum brings his experience as governor to the ticket and would prove a reliable loyalist to Trump – considering North Dakota’s status as a reliable red state.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina
The Tea Party movement lauded Scott as a running star upon his election to the House of Representatives in 2010. Then-governor Nikki Haley appointed him to the Senate in 2013, where he has stayed ever since as the only Black Republican member. Scott is generally well-liked among the Republican base, and has been a reliable fundraiser – at one point, he had the most campaign cash in the Republican primaries. Scott ran a 6-month campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, endorsing Trump not long after his withdrawal.
Selecting Scott as his running mate may boost Trump’s support among Black voters, although this effect would probably be very minuscule. Scott’s references to his faith may also attract evangelicals. However, insiders close to the former president have suggested that Scott may no longer be at the top of Trump’s shortlist for VP.
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida
Marco Rubio is probably the most experienced of the four when it comes to the national stage, having ran for President in the 2016 Republican primaries. A son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio was first elected to the Senate in 2010 after a career in the Florida State House that saw him become that chamber’s speaker. Since then, Rubio has become a hawk on foreign policy, espousing pro-Israel and anti-Putin views. Rubio and Trump have had a close relationship for years, with the senator having advised Trump on Latin American policy during his presidency and Trump considering Rubio as a possible secretary of state. Rubio’s Cuban heritage and relative popularity (having been elected to three Senate terms in battleground Florida) would benefit the ticket. However, the Twelfth Amendment to the United States Constitution prevents electors from voting for a presidential and vice presidential candidate from the same state. To circumvent this, Rubio could move states but this would be unlikely since he is an elected official.
The Ideal Candidate
In my opinion, none of these people should be picked by Trump to be his running mate. I think that former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, who ran against Trump in the 2024 primaries, would be a good pick despite the fact Trump is not considering her to be his running mate. In addition to the fact that she has endorsed Trump, she would appeal to the Republican primary voters who did not vote for Trump and would boost the ticket’s favorability ratings among suburbanites, women, and Asians (Haley is of Indian heritage). She would be a good solid pick that would satisfy the Republican establishment and rally all corners of the Republican base around her. Her added previous executive and foreign policy experience as governor and as Ambassador to the United Nations under Trump’s first term would add leverage to the ticket as well. Considering her previous debate performances during the Republican primaries she would be able to hold off her own against Vice President Kamala Harris in a potential debate. The only disadvantage Haley would have in being a running mate would be her lack of strong loyalty to Trump (after all, she ran against Trump in the Republican primaries).
Conclusion
Trump’s selection of a running mate is one of many factors that may influence the 2024 election. Each of the four frontrunners above all have their positive and negative characteristics that may help or hurt the ticket. As the country shifts into general election campaign mode, Trump’s decision is being watched closely by Republicans and non-Republicans alike.
Emil Ordonez, a rising college freshman, is the founder and editor-in-chief of Polinsights. He has been deeply passionate about politics and history since learning every U.S. President at the age of five. He was compelled to start this blog after meeting many people who were misinformed or had become apathetic about how society worked. He hopes to provide factual knowledge and insights that will encourage people, especially the young, to get more engaged in their respective communities. In his free time, he edits for Wikipedia and makes maps for elections. He aspires to work in Congress or even the White House in the future.
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