Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) said she would not take a vice presidential spot on the Democratic ticket alongside Vice President Kamala Harris but is supportive of Harris’s bid.
The Michigan governor endorsed Harris earlier on Monday, a day after President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential election and endorsed Harris to replace him at the top of the ticket. Whitmer told WLNS on Monday that she is “not going anywhere” when asked if she would accept being the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee.
“I am not leaving Michigan. I am proud to be the governor of Michigan, I’ve been consistent. I know everyone is always suspicious and asking this question over and over again,” Whitmer said.
When asked about why she waited until Monday to endorse Harris, Whitmer said she wanted the dust to settle before deciding what to do after Biden dropped out of the campaign.
“I think everyone was surprised by the news yesterday, even though there was a lot of conversations about it and that means co-chair included. So I wanted a minute to check in with all my colleagues and let the dust settle and I’m proud to be supporting the vice president for president,” the governor said.
Whitmer, considered a star in the Democratic Party and a potential future presidential candidate, said in a statement on Monday that she is “fired up” to endorse Harris for president and announced she would serve as a co-chair for the vice president’s campaign. She had previously served as a co-chair for Biden’s reelection campaign before the president dropped the bid on Sunday.
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With the endorsements from Whitmer, Biden, and other key Democrats, Harris appears likely to be the Democratic nominee. Harris has yet to name a running mate, but Govs. Andy Beshear (D-KY) and Roy Cooper (D-NC), among others, have been tossed around as potential vice presidential nominees.
The shake-up to the Democrats’ presidential ticket comes after concerns mounted over Biden’s age and mental acuity following a debate with former President Donald Trump last month. It also comes a week after Trump named Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) as his running mate.