Editor’s Note: This Profile Series A list of potential vice presidential candidates for Republican candidate Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
Original name suggestions President Trump’s The shortlist of running mates has been praised by political insiders for “overwhelming” bipartisan support, with some noting that her selection could spell trouble for President Biden in key battleground states in November.
Trump has indicated he will announce his running mate at next month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and is rumored to be considering a long list that includes Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, who is a hot topic within the party.
“He brings to this job skills honed over decades of helping buy and turn around companies, turning good and failing companies into great ones!” veteran Republican strategist Karl Rove told Fox News Digital, referring to Youngkin’s experience in the private sector before his successful run for governor in 2021.
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From left, House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem and South Carolina Governor Tim Scott are all running as former President Trump’s running mate. (Getty Images)
“In doing so, he has earned a reputation for strong leadership and making government work for the American people,” Rove said, praising his “successful” term so far in leading the Democratic-leaning state “to pursue an ambitious agenda of education reform, parental rights, economic growth and job creation.”
Rove added that Youngkin’s “victory in a state Biden won by 10 points has led many observers to highlight his bipartisan appeal.” Republican strategist Erin Perin said this extended to his “successful governance” and reflected his “ability to appeal across party lines.”
Perrin told Fox that Youngkin’s high approval rating in Virginia, where opinion polls show him at over 50%, is due to his “effective leadership” and that his appeal to Democrats “will be absolutely huge during the general election campaign.”
“Additionally, Virginia is showing signs of becoming more competitive due to dissatisfaction with Biden among the Democratic base, and Biden will need to count on the support of heavily Democratic Northern Virginia to win the state,” Perrin said.
A Fox News poll released earlier this month showed Trump and Biden in a close race among voters in Virginia, a state that hasn’t been won by a Republican presidential candidate since former President George W. Bush was re-elected in 2004.
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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin speaks at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Path to the Majority Policy Conference at the Washington Hilton on June 22, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
“Donors appreciate Youngkin’s Republican politics, which balance conservative values with no-nonsense governance, and they could bring more money to his campaign,” Perrin said, adding that Youngkin’s good relationship with Trump is a “huge advantage” while other candidates are “fighting hard to get ahead of Trump and be liked.”
“Add to that the possibility of overturning the election results in Virginia. In 2021, Youngkin defeated Democrat and former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, a state that President Joe Biden won by 10 points just a year earlier. The win demonstrates his ability to attract swing voters and energize the Republican base in a key state, improving the Republican party’s electoral prospects.”
Democratic strategist Kevin Waring also noted Youngkin’s ability to rally support across party lines, saying her “upbeat optimism” has permeated the state and helped create a “unique coalition of MAGA, traditional Republicans and independents” that landed her in the governor’s mansion.
“Trump’s efforts to balance his nominees may help him win over Nikki Haley’s supporters, independents and perhaps disaffected Democrats,” he said. “But Trump seems more focused on picking someone who will be his attack dog or ‘yes man’ than on optimism, electability or balance.”
While Youngkin “stunned the political world” with his stunning victory in 2021, Waring said his success and high approval ratings didn’t translate into victories in last year’s congressional elections, when Republicans lost control of the Virginia House of Representatives and fell short of winning a majority in the Virginia Senate.
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Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin spoke at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s Majority Policy Conference in Washington, DC on Saturday. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
“He was a very successful businessman prior to his campaign and would seem to fit Donald Trump’s profile, but he may be much better suited to a Trump administration cabinet position or as a front-runner for the 2028 presidential election if Trump loses again in 2024,” Waring said.
“I’m concerned about Youngkin as a presidential candidate in 2028 and I’m concerned about him as a vice presidential candidate in 2024. But I don’t think there’s any chance he’ll be the party’s vice presidential candidate in this election.”
Loeb and Perrin also argued there were several downsides to selecting Youngkin, including his background in private business and his relatively little experience in public office.
“This is his first and only term in office and he’s only been on one election campaign,” Rove said, adding that he would likely face intense scrutiny for having amassed vast wealth during his career in finance.
“While Youngkin is popular in Virginia, he is not as well known nationally as some of the other vice presidential candidates. His appeal overlaps with that of North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum and Senator Tim Scott, who may be less visible in comparison in terms of their fundraising potential,” Perrin said.
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Former President Trump and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin met for the first time earlier this month. (Trump camp)
“Additionally, Youngkin’s practical, CEO-level approach makes him well suited to navigating the business world, while the other vice presidential candidates are former members of Congress, making Congress and its twists and turns a bit more unknown to Youngkin than the other candidates, but his strong history of relationship building makes up for that,” she said.
A source close to Governor Youngkin told Fox News Digital that the governor is not looking to elevate himself in President Trump’s running mate search.
“There’s no ambition here,” the source said, adding that Youngkin’s only goal is to help Trump compete against Biden in Virginia. “The focus is on winning, and that decision is up to the president and his team.”
Youngkin, who largely kept his distance from Trump during the 2021 campaign, said in an interview with Fox News Digital earlier this month that he “fully supports” Trump in ousting Biden and will “campaign hard” for Trump’s victory.
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The governor spoke ahead of Trump at the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s annual “Path to the Majority” conference in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, where he called for action to get the former president back to office. White Houseand to strengthen Republican majorities in Congress.
Young King too The pair met for the first time earlier this month, spurring already circulating rumors that she was being considered as Trump’s running mate, though there have been no reports or confirmations so far that she is actually part of the ongoing vetting process.
Other candidates being floated as possible candidates to join Trump on the Republican ticket include House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott.
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
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