Govs. Andy Beshear (D-KY) and Roy Cooper (D-NC) are widely considered top contenders to be Vice President Kamala Harris‘s running mate, and both governors left the door open to being Harris’s vice president when asked directly on Monday.
After President Joe Biden announced on Sunday that he would drop out of the race and endorsed Harris to replace him at the top of the Democratic ticket, several prominent Democrats have backed Harris to be the new presidential nominee. With Harris as the likely nominee, the process to find her a running mate will have to happen in an abbreviated process ahead of next month’s Democratic National Convention.
Both Beshear and Cooper were asked on MSNBC’s Morning Joe about their names being tossed around as a partner for Harris.
Beshear appeared to solidify his spot as a vice presidential contender, going after Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), the GOP vice presidential nominee, and giving Harris his endorsement for the top of the ticket.
“The vice president is smart and strong, which will make her a good president,” Beshear said. “But she’s also kind and has empathy, which can make her a great president, and the contrast between her and those running on the other side couldn’t be clearer.”
“As a prosecutor — as an attorney general like I used to be — she prosecuted rapist domestic abusers, stood for victims, and put away those abusers. Now look at the other side, where J.D. Vance calls pregnancy arising from rape inconvenient. No, it’s just plain wrong,” he added.
When asked directly about being Harris’s running mate, he said it is “flattering to be a part of” the process and touted his record as governor for the reason he is being floated as a vice presidential candidate.
“Let me first say I love my job, I love serving the people of Kentucky. The only way I would consider something other than this current job is if I believed I could further help my people and to help this country,” Beshear said.
Beshear also attacked Vance for his portrayal of Appalachia by saying the senator does not know Kentuckians.
Cooper was also asked about the speculation that he could be Harris’s running mate, but said that while he appreciates being floated as a vice presidential candidate, the focus should be on Harris securing the Democratic nomination.
“I think it’s really important that we do keep the focus on her this week. The vice presidential conversation needs to occur later,” Cooper said. “I want to make sure that Kamala Harris wins. I’m going to work for her all over this country and do what I can to make sure we stop Donald Trump. And that’s what I’m concentrating on right now.”
The North Carolina governor was also asked about a conversation he had with Harris on Sunday, which he described as “great” and said was about “winning this race.”
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Beshear and Cooper have been discussed as running mates for Harris largely because of their electoral strength against Republicans.
Beshear won his second term as governor of Kentucky in November 2023, despite the state being heavily Republican. Cooper won two terms as governor of North Carolina in 2016 and 2020, despite former President Donald Trump winning the state on the same ballot both times. Cooper is term-limited and cannot run for a third term in November.