Number two for Harris: Who could become Vice President of US from Democrats

Since Kamala Harris represents the politically dominant Democratic state of California, her vice-presidential candidate might be chosen from a swing state - where Democratic and Republican chances of victory are closely matched.

The selection and vetting of potential candidates are being handled by former US Attorney General Eric Holder and his law firm.

Josh Shapiro

The Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, served as the state's Attorney General for five years before taking office. This background means he has known Kamala Harris for nearly two decades, as she was California's Attorney General.

Shapiro enjoys the support of many Wall Street donors, who believe he could assist Harris in his state. However, Shapiro's strong pro-Israel stance might affect Harris's position in another swing state - Michigan. Michigan has a significant Arab American voter base with anti-Israel sentiments.

According to the Financial Times, some Democratic Party donors are concerned that Shapiro lacks sufficient governance experience.

Josh Shapiro regularly makes statements in support of Ukraine, but there have been few practical actions.

Mark Kelly

Senator from Arizona, Mark Kelly, is a former US Navy pilot and a participant in the 1991 Operation Desert Storm in Iraq and Kuwait. In the mid-90s, Mark Kelly and his twin brother Scott were selected for NASA's astronaut training program. He has been serving as a senator since 2020. Kelly enjoys support from Hollywood Democratic donors for the vice-presidential candidacy.

Choosing Mark Kelly could help Kamala Harris secure a victory in Arizona and garner support among conservative-leaning independent voters concerned about the potential return of Trump as commander-in-chief.

However, this would require Kelly to vacate his Senate seat, potentially costing Democrats their majority in the upper chamber of Congress.

In 2023, Mark Kelly made two visits to Ukraine and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to Washington. In Arizona, the state Kelly represents, Ukrainian pilots are undergoing training.

Roy Cooper

The Governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, has been in office since 2016, with his term ending in 2024. Cooper and Harris served as state attorneys general simultaneously, and they campaigned together in North Carolina in the final weeks before Biden withdrew from the race.

Cooper has extensive political experience, having won six general elections in North Carolina, and is highly regarded as governor. In 2020, he was the only Democratic governor to win in a red state.

Cooper has a clear pro-Ukrainian stance. In April 2022, he directed the state's National Guard to send military aid to Ukraine. Additionally, under his orders, all government institutions ceased agreements or transactions benefiting Russian organizations.

J.B. Pritzker

Governor of Illinois and heir to the Hyatt Hotels Corporation, J.B. Pritzker governs a state with a significant number of electoral votes - 19 - and one that reliably supports Democrats. One of Pritzker's advantages is his ability to finance the campaign from his resources.

Pritzker has a Ukrainian Jewish heritage. Members of the Ukrainian diaspora in Chicago note that the governor is well-informed about Ukraine. Additionally, his sister, Penny Pritzker, is the US Special Representative for Ukraine's economic recovery.

He is one of Ukraine's strongest advocates in the US. On March 18, 2022, he became the first governor to impose state-level sanctions against Russia. Pritzker also signed an act to withdraw all state funds from Russian banks in solidarity with Ukraine.

Gretchen Whitmer

Governor of the key swing state of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer could help Kamala Harris secure votes from Arab Americans if she becomes the vice-presidential candidate.

In recent years, Whitmer has become a prominent figure in the Democratic Party. She co-chaired Biden's national campaign and is currently assisting Harris. On July 9, she released her memoir, "True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between."

Together with Kamala Harris, Whitmer would represent an unprecedented combination of women candidates for both president and vice president. However, Whitmer has expressed reluctance to run in the election.

Whitmer has made few statements in support of Ukraine. However, in May 2023, she visited Latvia, where the Michigan National Guard was stationed, and expressed solidarity with Ukrainians during the visit.

US Vice President Kamala Harris may replace Joe Biden in the election race. On July 21, Biden announced that he would not seek re-election as President.

Kamala Harris and Donald Trump currently have nearly equal levels of support. According to polls, their ratings are within the margin of error.

This article incorporates materials from CNN, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and public statements by American politicians.