In a letter to Vice-President Harris and released today, a group of 45 progressives from across the nation have asked Harris to narrow her VP choice to governors Tim Walz of Minnesota and Andy Beshear of Kentucky.
They open the letter by saying to the Vice President:
Thank you, on behalf of a grateful nation, for stepping forward after President Biden’s decision not to seek re-election. As progressive leaders from across America, we whole-heartedly endorse your historic campaign to protect democracy, unify the nation, and keep a Democrat in the White House.
They go on to note that “it is difficult to overstate the importance of your decision in selecting a Vice-Presidential running mate. The correct vice presidential candidate can build on the amazing momentum you have established or set us back, especially among hard-to-reach, young, and disenfranchised voters.”
The letter then explains why they feel Walz and Beshear should be the only two candidates considered for the VP slot.
Governors Tim Walz and Andy Beshear are persuasive advocates for core Democratic values and will energize voters across America without marginalizing any of the communities that we must engage in order to win the electoral college.
At the same time, they reject Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania:
Governor Shapiro, although a valued member of the Democratic coalition, has made too many controversial policy decisions on issues such as school choice and the environment to be the consensus voice our nation needs right now.
They note that both Walz and Beshear “have had several interviews go viral due to their persuasive critique of the Republican ticket and advocacy based on our shared values.”
In conclusion, they say that “governors like Beshear and Walz represent and connect with rural communities that have felt left behind in recent elections. Beshear — who has flipped many Republican rural counties in Kentucky — and Walz — who was a democratic representative in a rural district before becoming governor — are perfect candidates to help us win back rural voters across the country.”
The letter was composed and organized by the Chair and Chair Emeritus of the California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus, Fatima Iqbal-Zubair and Amar Shergill.
The PDF of the letter is below.
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