Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, said Tuesday she would “never say no” to being Vice President Harris’ running mate if she were to replace President Biden as the party’s top presidential candidate.
But Whitmer stressed that she intends to serve out her term as governor and is not seeking a new job in Washington.
“I’ve never been excited about the opportunity in Washington, D.C., because I love Michigan. I love state government,” Whitmer said in an interview on ABC’s “The View,” when asked if she would run as Harris’ running mate if Biden leaves office.
“But, you know, I would never say never, but it’s not something I want for a second,” added Whitmer, who is co-chair of the Biden-Harris reelection campaign. “I’ve committed to serving out my term in Michigan.”
Whitmer, the battleground state governor, has been frequently mentioned as a possible replacement for Biden if he were to drop out of the presidential race, but she has been adamant that Biden will not drop out. Whitmer has also expressed frustration at reports that she is being singled out as a possible replacement, and in the interview reiterated her support for the president.
When asked if Biden is the best candidate to challenge Trump, Governor Whitmer replied, “I do, which is why I am co-chairing the Biden-Harris reelection campaign.”
“Whether it’s lowering the price of insulin, whether it’s domesticating our post-pandemic supply chain, whether it’s helping people get back to work and keep more money in their pockets, that’s what the Biden-Harris Administration has been doing,” she added. “He has an incredibly capable vice president by his side, and we elected them as a team, and I’m excited about that.”
Pressed to consider a scenario in which Biden were to leave office, Whitmer agreed that Harris would be the obvious choice to replace Biden.
“There’s a reason why she became vice president,” she said, “so I think it’s a natural conclusion and I want to support her.”
Her comments came a day after the Michigan governor defended Biden in a Q&A interview with USA Today, describing his hectic schedule as “grueling” for everyone.
At least six House Democrats have publicly called for Biden to resign after his performance in the debate raised concerns within the party about his standing as the top nominee, but many Democrats, including leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, have solidified their support for the incumbent.
