Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., has expressed interest in becoming former President Donald Trump’s running mate for the 2024 election. This comes as Scott and other contenders have been making appearances in New York to support Trump at his trial. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. J.D. Vance, Sen. Marco Rubio, Rep. Byron Donalds, and Rep. Elise Stefanik are among those rumored to be on Trump’s shortlist for VP. Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas has also been mentioned as a potential pick.
Some early rumored contenders have been eliminated from consideration, including Arizona Republican Senate candidate Kari Lake and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy have also been ruled out by Trump. Donald Trump Jr. even floated the idea of former Fox News host Tucker Carlson as a potential VP pick, but Carlson has dismissed the idea, saying a career in politics is unimaginable.
There are clear downsides to some of the potential candidates. Rubio and DeSantis both hail from Florida, potentially drawing the same base of supporters. Stefanik represents a blue state that Trump likely cannot win. Scott, who voted to certify the results of the 2020 election, may not align with Trump’s allies in Congress. Trump has also had a rocky relationship with his former vice president, Mike Pence, who he criticized for refusing to overturn the election results.
Trump has not yet made a decision on his running mate, but has praised several of the potential contenders. He mentioned Scott as an “unbelievable” campaign surrogate and referred to Noem as someone he loves. The Republican National Convention will formalize Trump’s nomination in July, and the Democratic National Convention will be held in August. Trump has indicated that he will announce his VP pick closer to the Republican National Convention.
The VP selection process remains ongoing, with Trump’s campaign vetting candidates but no one-on-one meetings between Trump and potential contenders yet taking place. As the 2024 primary season unfolds, the landscape of potential running mates for both Trump and President Joe Biden will continue to evolve. Trump has a number of options to consider, and his eventual decision could have significant implications for the election.
