On Friday, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump officially announced Indiana Governor Mike Pence to be his running mate before the Republican National Convention this week. Mike Pence has quite a reputation of his own, and it will be interesting to see where the campaign is headed.
Now, the pressure is on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to announce her running mate before the July 24 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. Here is a shortlist of the top contenders for the position:
Elizabeth Warren
Warren is one of the most popular leaders from the American left. Within mere four years in the Senate, her following has risen thanks to her unapologetic outspoken advocacy of liberal causes like fighting Wall Street abuses and reducing the cost of college. With Warren on her side, Clinton could effectively mobilize Sander’s voters, but it would do little to influence swing voters. Also, Warren could possibly outshine Clinton as it is unclear how her outspoken nature would make her fit into the role of the subservient VP.
Julian Castro
Castro is the dynamic, 41 year old former mayor of San Antonio, and is currently serving as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Obama. He gained national recognition for his 2012 keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention. Castro could be instrumental in securing Latino votes in swing states, and his youth makes him a lot more approachable to the younger demographic, something that Clinton has not yet been able to mobilize.
Tom Perez
Popular for his work as the assistant Attorney General for civil rights during the presidencies of Bill Clinton and then Obama, Tom Perez is a revered federal prosecutor who is currently the US Secretary of Labor. Born in a Dominican Immigrant family, Perez has a great rapport with organized labor and has a large Latino support system behind him.
Sherrod Brown
Brown is a Clinton family favorite, and has served in the White House from 1993 to 2006, after which he got elected to the Senate. He is widely popular for his opposition of trade agreements, especially the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which he helped rally against in 1993. He is the senator of Ohio, which is a key swing state in November, and is popular amongst blue collar voters. Brown’s career as a politician is also marked by his sharp temper, which would not work out too well for the campaign.
Cory Booker
The New Jersey senator was previously a popular high-profile mayor of Newark, NJ. He rose to popularity for his hands-on work on the ground with constituents, from shoveling snow to saving people from fire. He is also known for his active Twitter handle and media appearances. A supporter of Private Equity, Booker’s center-left could be the perfect addition for the Clinton campaign. He is a young African American who speaks fluent Spanish and has done a lot to mobilize voters in NJ. His modern approach to crime and economic revitalization can work to a great advantage as people are skeptical of Clinton’s criminal justice action considering the failures of the Bill Clinton administration.
Tim Kaine
Tim Kaine is a junior senator for Virginia, and has served as the state governor and the mayor of Richmond. He was on the shortlist to be Obama’s running mate, only to be ousted by everyone’s favorite Biden. Kaine has a large following in Virginia, which would work to their advantage as Republicans need Virginia’s votes to win. Kaine is a fluent Spanish speaker with blue collar history and a law career focused on housing discrimination, all of which make him more influential amongst activists. He also has strong political ties with leaders and donors because of his work as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
