WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign has requested vetting materials from five possible running mates, according to two sources familiar with the effort to review the backgrounds of those being considered.
The five Democratic vice presidential contenders are North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Sen. Mark Kelly, of Arizona.
Another source familiar with the list said the Harris campaign is also actively considering Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
Pennsylvania, Michigan, Arizona and North Carolina are among the critical battleground states that Harris may need to win the Electoral College in November.
Two other possible names under discussion include Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and former Rep. Cedric Richmond, of Louisiana, who has served as a Biden-Harris campaign co-chair, one of the sources said. It's not clear if the two received vetting materials.
NBC News has reached out to all of the potential picks.
Kevin Munoz, spokesman for Harris' campaign, dismissed any speculation about who could be her pick.
“Any reporting on developments or updates in Vice President Harris’ running mate search are premature and speculative. Vice President Harris is considering a large pool of qualified candidates, and will choose a partner that shares her commitment to fighting for the middle class, protecting Americans’ freedoms, and protecting our democracy. And when that candidate is chosen, together, they will handily defeat the Trump-Vance ticket in November," he said in a statement.
Eric Holder, who was the attorney general in the Obama administration, has been tasked with leading the vetting process for Harris' potential running mates, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
Holder and the law firm where he is a senior counsel, Covington & Burling LLP, will oversee the operation, which is taking place on a more compressed timeline compared to other election cycles given President Joe Biden’s late decision to exit the 2024 race.
The goal is still to have a vice presidential nominee for Harris ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, scheduled for Aug. 19 to 22.
The exact mechanism for how that person will be formally nominated is still being worked out and the process remains fluid. The Democratic National Committee is still expected to hold a virtual roll call around the first week of August to nominate Harris. The rules committee will meet Wednesday to discuss how that process will work.
On her first full day as a presidential candidate Monday, a majority of pledged convention delegates endorsed Harris for the Democratic nomination.
