Staff Reports
Donald Trump, the larger-than-life figure dominating the GOP’s presidential primaries, is gearing up to announce his running mate for the upcoming general election in November. As the presumptive nominee, Trump is making sure to carefully consider his options before making the big reveal.
The former president’s previous running mate, Mike Pence, won’t be rejoining the ticket after challenging Trump in the 2024 cycle. Another former 2024 Trump challenger, Vivek Ramaswamy, is reportedly out of the running for the VP slot but could snag a spot in the Cabinet if Trump is reelected.
With plenty of Republicans vying for the chance to be Trump’s right-hand person, the competition is fierce. Here’s a breakdown of the potential running mates and their pros and cons:
First up is Sen. Marco Rubio, a one-time rival of Trump in 2016. At 52, Rubio is significantly younger than the 77-year-old Trump and would make history as the first person of color on a Republican presidential ticket. However, both Rubio and Trump hail from Florida, and one of them would need to change their residency to comply with federal law. While Rubio claims he hasn’t spoken to Trump about joining the ticket, he’s still ready to support the campaign, whoever Trump chooses.
Next in the lineup is Sen. Tim Scott, who emerged relatively unscathed after running against Trump in 2024. Scott has campaigned for Trump as a surrogate and appeared with him at rallies, but it’s uncertain whether he could sway black voters, who overwhelmingly support the Democratic Party, to vote for the Trump ticket.
Then there’s Rep. Byron Donalds, a vocal Trump supporter who, like Rubio, would need to sort out the Florida residency issue. Despite his efforts to champion black voters abandoning the Democratic Party, his appeal to this demographic isn’t guaranteed.
Gov. Kristi Noem is another top supporter of Trump, seen as a fierce conservative woman who could potentially help him win back suburban women voters. However, she has faced criticism over peddling business products on social media, which could pose a problem for Trump’s campaign.
House Republican Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik is also rumored to be in the running, having appeared at campaign rallies for Trump. Trump was reportedly impressed with her grilling of university presidents for campus antisemitism, but her top weakness is her perceived lack of experience at 39 years old.
Gov. Ron DeSantis, once considered a top candidate to defeat Trump, has endorsed him for president but has not appeared onstage with him. DeSantis has repeatedly stated that he would reject a vice presidential offer while running for president, preferring to focus on his gubernatorial role.
Former Hawaii Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard may not be an actual Republican, but she has made overtures to appeal to the party after renouncing her status as a Democrat. Her anti-establishment credentials could help Trump, but her past as a Democrat could turn away Republican voters.
Arizona Republican Kari Lake, an outspoken supporter of Trump, has an upfront attitude that may appeal to him, but it’s unlikely to play well with moderates and independents.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, known for her headline-grabbing spats with Democratic members, could prove useful to the Trump campaign as a feisty representative from the battleground state of Georgia. However, her antics may not sit well with centrists and suburban women voters.
Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson endorsed Trump’s 2024 bid and could potentially join him on the ticket again. However, as a retired neurosurgeon, he may not appeal to GOP voters looking for a more assertive defender of Trump.
As Trump mulls over his options, the pressure is on to choose a running mate who will strengthen his chances of victory in November. With plenty of personalities and backgrounds in the mix, the decision is sure to be a tough one for the former president.
