Former President Donald Trump has already said he's decided on who will be his running mate in the 2024 presidential election. But with the Republican National Convention now just weeks away, one big question remains: who's it going to be?
In recent presidential election years, the pick of vice president has rarely made a difference in the polls. However, this year it is being watched more closely, not just because of the age of the two leading presidential candidates, but also because of the number of undecided voters that still exist in many key swing states.
Trump, who is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has previously said he plans to formally announce his vice president pick around the time of the GOP convention, which will run from July 15 to July 18 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. However, the delay in naming a running mate has turned the race into somewhat of a reality show contest, with Republican surrogates taking to the airwaves in recent weeks to try and tout the former president's campaign.
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Aside from former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, nearly everyone vying for Trump's pick for vice president is an elected Republican. They include:
- Sen. J.D. Vance - Ohio
- Sen. Marco Rubio - Florida
- Rep. Elise Stefanik - New York
- Sen. Tim Scott - South Carolina
- Gov. Doug Burgum - North Dakota
- Sen. Tom Cotton - Arkansas
- Rep. Byron Donalds - Florida
Of course, Trump could always pick someone not on that list. Political oddsmakers at the gambling site Oddschecker also have people like former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and former GOP Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as other possible considerations for the role.
Suzi Zeising is an undecided voter in Georgia who previously backed Nikki Haley. She says if Trump picked her, it could get her vote.
"I think the only one that may sway me is Nikki Haley," Zeising told Scripps News.
The only leading contender that could cause a legal problem for Trump is Sen. Rubio because the constitution says the president and vice president can't be from the same state. Since Trump and Rubio both reside in Florida, one would have to declare another state their home.
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Whoever Trump ultimately does choose will be tasked with debating Vice President Kamala Harris in the coming weeks. Harris accepted an invitation from CBS News to debate Trump's running mate on either July 23 or August 13.
Trump's selection could also have a huge impact on American politics for years to come. The former president can only serve one more term, so his running mate pick could be considered the heir apparent to Trump's political movement.
