Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer confirmed Monday that she is not involved in the vice presidential selection process and reiterated that she has ruled out being Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.
Sen. Whitmer, 52, who has long stoked hopes of a presidential run, will campaign for Sen. Harris, 59, in Pennsylvania later Monday afternoon along with Gov. Josh Shapiro, 51. But she stressed that she never sought high office during this election cycle.
“I have told everybody, including my campaign, that I am committed to serving the full term as governor of Michigan,” Whitmer said Monday on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“My position as governor allows me to be a great ally to President Harris and a great co-chair of the Harris campaign, so I’m not involved in the vetting process,” she added.
Whitmer, who serves as co-chair of the recently renamed Harris presidential campaign, endorsed the vice president on Monday, the day after Biden made the shock announcement that he was dropping out of the race.
Later that month, the Michigan governor ruled out a vice presidential bid, telling a WLNS reporter that he had “no plans to run anywhere.”
“I’m proud to be the governor of Michigan. I’ve been consistent,” she said. “I know everyone is always skeptical and has asked this question over and over again. I’m not going anywhere.”
Harris is trying to fast-track the rushed vetting process for her number two and is expected to make a big decision within the next two weeks.
The Democratic National Committee’s rules committee voted to move forward with a virtual roll call to decide the party’s nominee by Aug. 7, for ballot access purposes. Her selection must be announced before any such vote takes place.
This comes ahead of next month’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which will run from August 19-22.
Governor Whitmer predicted a decision could come even sooner.
“Everything will be curtailed and she will probably make that decision within the next six or seven days,” Gov. Whitmer told “CBS Mornings.”
Possible vice presidential candidates include Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Shapiro, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
“The Vice President will select his running mate from an incredible group of talent, and I am confident that as co-chair of this campaign I will be the best ally on the ground in Michigan,” Whitmer added.
Harris has garnered enough support from delegates to be considered a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Amid Harris’ meteoric rise, Democrats have been touting the momentum on her side: Over the weekend, her campaign claimed it had raised nearly $200 million less than a week after Biden dropped out.
