Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris will conduct interviews on Sunday at her residence with the three leading candidates for vice president: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Ms. Harris is expected to announce her choice possibly on Monday, before making a public appearance with the vice presidential candidate at a campaign event scheduled for Tuesday in Philadelphia. Her campaign team is also planning a social media announcement, according to officials familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters.
On Saturday, Ms. Harris met with the task force that has reviewed the candidates. Among the task force members is former Attorney General Eric Holder, whose law firm, Covington & Burling LLP, analyzed the financial status and background of the candidates. Mr. Holder and his colleagues provided a detailed assessment of each candidate, according to sources familiar with the process.
Ms. Harris also had a 90-minute meeting on Friday with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Candidates are expected to be informed of their selection either Monday evening or Tuesday morning.
The choice of the person who will run alongside her is one of the most significant decisions in Ms. Harris’s political career as she seeks to rapidly build a campaign to challenge former President Donald Trump in the November 5 election, following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race last month.
The candidates on the list are all white men, who have historically attracted voters in rural areas, white voters, or independents.
The decision Ms. Harris makes will also influence the future direction of the Democratic Party, strengthening the selected candidate for future elections as well.
Mr. Shapiro, one of the leading candidates, has faced sharp criticism from the left, particularly from progressive groups and pro-Palestinian activists, for his support of Israel and his handling of protests at universities related to the Gaza conflict.
“Policy on Gaza needs to be corrected, and there needs to be a policy agenda in favor of the working class, including an agenda supporting African Americans,” said Nina Turner, a former co-chair of Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign and a scholar at the Institute for Race, Power, and Political Economy, a progressive research organization. “Choosing Governor Shapiro would eliminate that possibility.”
There have also been questions about how he managed a sexual harassment complaint against an early aide. Additionally, the United Auto Workers (UAW), which recently endorsed Ms. Harris for president, has criticized Mr. Shapiro for calls to expand programs that direct more taxpayer money to private schools.
Other labor organizations have accused Mr. Kelly of opposing legislation they say would strengthen unions.
Shawn Fain, president of the UAW, said that despite the union’s support for Ms. Harris’s presidential candidacy, the 370,000-member union does not support the candidacies of Mr. Kelly and Mr. Shapiro.
Mr. Walz has become a favorite among progressives and youth groups, who appreciate his criticism of former President Trump.
At age 60, Mr. Walz is only a year older than Ms. Harris, but critics say he appears much older, a potential disadvantage for the campaign that is trying to overcome President Biden’s withdrawal from the race due to concerns about his advanced age.
Mr. Walz responded to these criticisms on X, saying his appearance is due to his past as a high school teacher and 20 years of overseeing the cafeteria. “You don’t leave that job with hair on your head. Believe me,” he wrote.
