WASHINGTON – Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign It has requested background checks from five potential running mates, according to two sources familiar with the effort to vet those being considered.
The five Democratic vice presidential candidates are North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper; Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro; Sen. Mark Kelly, R-Ariz.; Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer; and Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz.
Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona and North Carolina are among the critical battleground states where Harris may need to win the Electoral College in November.
Two other possible names being discussed include Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and former Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, who served as co-chairman of the Biden-Harris campaign, one of the sources said. It is not clear whether the two received the inspection materials.
NBC News reached out to all potential options.
Kevin Munoz, a spokesman for Harris’ campaign, dismissed any speculation about who he would be.
“Any reports of developments or updates in Vice President Harris’ search for an aide are premature and speculative. Vice President Harris is reviewing a large pool of qualified candidates and will select a partner who shares a commitment to fighting for the middle class, protecting Americans’ liberties, and protecting our democracy. And when that candidate is elected, they will easily defeat the Trump-Vance ticket in November,” he said.
The sources did not say whether Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, considered another possible choice, had received the audit materials.
Eric Holder, a former attorney general in the Obama administration, has been tasked with leading the vetting process for Harris’ potential nominees, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Holder and his law firm Covington & Burling LLP will oversee the operation, which is on a tighter schedule than other election cycles, given President Joe Biden’s late decision to drop out of the 2024 race.
The goal is to secure the vice-presidential nomination for Harris before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, August 19-22.
The exact mechanism for how that person will be formally nominated is still being worked out and the process remains fluid. The Democratic National Committee is still expected to be held virtual call around the first week of August Nominating Harris. The rules committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss how the process will work.
On Monday, in his first full day as a presidential candidate, most of the pledged convention delegates supported Harris For the Democratic nomination.