The Role of Vice Presidential Candidates in U.S. Presidential Elections

Now that Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have chosen their vice presidential candidates—Tim Walz and JD Vance—the question arises whether they will help Democrats and Republicans boost their chances in the November elections. But what role have vice presidential candidates historically played in U.S. presidential elections?

Vice President Kamala Harris enthusiastically introduced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her chosen candidate on Tuesday in Pennsylvania.

“He has been a model executive in his state, and with his experience, I can tell you that Tim Walz will be ready to serve from day one,” she said.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump also praised his chosen candidate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. However, the former president recently downplayed the significance of the vice presidential candidate.

“I think it’s well documented historically that the vice president, as far as elections go, has virtually no impact. It’s all about the presidential candidate,” he said.

Historians explain that since vice presidents operate in the shadow of the presidents, their roles are often misunderstood and undervalued.

However, they are first in line for presidential succession and are critically important for implementing their party’s program.

“Their role is to help advance and implement the president’s policies as well as to reinforce his leadership capabilities both nationally and internationally,” says historian Joel Goldstein.

To some extent, the choice of vice presidential candidates can energize the campaign, according to Goldstein.

“Bill Clinton’s choice of Al Gore in 1992 was very effective. The combination of these two young candidates from the South sent a message of generational change.”

Analysts have labeled Republican Senator John McCain’s selection of Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate in 2008 as “a bad decision.”

“She became a figure that was put on display during the campaign, and I think she harmed Senator McCain’s candidacy. But she wasn’t the reason he lost,” he says.

In this election, Democrats hope that Tim Walz’s achievements and economic policies will benefit the campaign.

“His family-oriented policies are not focused on abortion control but on economic support for families, whether in education, healthcare, housing, or employment,” says sociologist Elisabeth Clemens.

JD Vance will help articulate Republican ideas, says analyst Peter Loge.

“The vision presented by Republicans is of an America where, if working-class families worked hard and played by the rules, they could succeed, and that America has now disappeared. If you vote for them, that America will return,” says Professor Peter Loge of George Washington University.

Even though vice presidential candidates rarely make a significant impact on elections, analysts say voters will pay attention to how these candidates communicate with the electorate and how well they understand their concerns.