Who will be Kamala Harris' VP pick? The candidates who could join the ticket now that Biden has dropped out

President Biden dropping out of the presidential race with less than four months before Election Day and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him sets off a series of frantic steps Democrats must take to have their ticket ready to take on Donald Trump.

'Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this,' Biden wrote on X.  

While Harris is the likely nominee with the president's backing, it is not guaranteed until the delegates vote at the convention next month to formally nominate a candidate.   

Questions also swirl over who would be Harris' running mate as number two on the ticket if she officially becomes the nominee. 

Some of the names floated as a potential replacement before Biden exited the race and endorsed Harris on Sunday include California Governor Gavin Newsom, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. 

While these top Democrats are slowing reacting to the news of Biden exiting the race and Harris running, they have not yet weighed in on joining a Harris ticket.  

Here's whose names have been floated and what they're saying: 

Governor Josh Shapiro

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's name often comes up as a Democrat with a bright political future and potential sights on the White House. 

The battleground state governor was one of the first Democratic leaders to push back on replacing Biden following his stumbling debate performance, but it is not clear whether he would join a Harris ticket. 

 'President Biden is a patriot who has served our country honorably in the Senate, as Vice President, and as one of the most consequential presidents in modern history,' he wrote on X. 

'President Biden has gotten an incredible amount done to move our country forward, defend our democracy, and protect real freedom. I am proud to work by his side and am grateful for his leadership and his unwavering commitment to delivering for Pennsylvania — the Commonwealth that raised him,' he continued.

In a separate statement on Sunday, Shapiro endorsed Vice President Harris for the nomination. 

'I've known Kamala Harris for nearly tow decades - we've both been prosecutors, we've both stood up for the rule of law, we've both fought for the people and delivered results. Kamala Harris is a patriot worthy of our support and she will continue to work for generations of Americans who came before us to perfect our union, protect our democracy, and advance real freedom,' he said in a statement. 'She has served the country honorably as Vice President and she is ready to be President.'

The battleground state governor said the best path forward for the Democratic Party is to 'quickly unite behind Vice President Harris and refocus on winning the presidency.'

He vowed he would do everything he an to help elect Harris as the next president. 

Governor Andy Beshear

Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat who won reelection in ruby red Kentucky last year released a lengthy statement on Biden's exit from the presidential race. 

President Biden wil be remembered as a consequential president. Along with Vice President Harris, he led us through the aftermath of the January 6th attack on our Capitol and steadily steered us out of a global pandemic. He showed up for Kentucky after devastating tornadoes and historic flooding, delivering immediate federal aid that is helping to rebuild our communities,' he said. 

'His leadership provided infrastructure investments that are bringing clean drinking water and high speed internet to parts of Kentucky that for far too long had been overlooked and underserved,' he continued. 

'While his decision today could not have been easy it is in the best interest of our country, and our party. I want to thank him for his leadership, kindness and for a successful presidency that got big, important things done.'

'Now is time for our nation to come together. we need to dial down the anger, rancor and noise. We have an opportunity to remember that we are taught to treat our neighbors as ourselves -- and that we are all each other's neighbors,' he finished. 

Governor Roy Cooper

North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper won his state in two elections even as Trump won the state in the presidential race. Now he is term limited and preparing to leave office. He endorsed Harris on Sunday. 

Bringing him on to the Democratic presidential ticket could put North Carolina closer into play for Democrats. He has also frequently appeared with both Biden and Harris on the campaign trail. 

'President Biden has cemented his place among our nations's finest Presidents,' Cooper wrote in a statement on Sunday. 'When our democracy faced danger, President Biden stood strong as the rarest type of leader who could help u forge ahead with a vision to repair our country's soul,' he said. 

 Cooper praised him passing transformative legislation that will benefit the economy, families, and the country for generations. 

'I'm deeply grateful to call President Joe Biden my friend, and I think him form the bottom of my heart for his service to our great nation,' he concluded. 

In a separate post on X, Cooper backed Harris. 

'Kamala Harris should be the next President,' Cooper wrote. 'I’ve known [Harris] going back to our days as AGs, and she has what it takes to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country thoughtfully and with integrity. I look forward to campaigning for her as we work to win NC up and down the ticket.'

Cooper spoke to Harris on Sunday. He said the spoke about winning the election.  

When asked about joining the ticket, Cooper said the conversation needs to remain focused on Harris. He said the conversation about vice presidential picks needs to occur later.

'I want to make sure Kamala Harris wins,' he said. Cooper argued Harris at the top of the ticket changes the dynamic in North Carolina.  

Governor Gretchen Whitmer

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has often been referred to as one of the potential future leaders of the Democratic party. She also hails from a battleground state and served as a co-chair for the Biden campaign.    

She said her job in the election will remain doing everything she can to elect Democrats and stop Trump. 

'President Biden is a great public servant who knows better than anyone what it takes to defeat Donald Trump,' she wrote on X. 

'His remarkable work to lower prescription drug costs, fix the damn roads, bring supply chains home, address climate change, and ensure America’s global leadership over decades will go down in history,' she continued. 

'My job in this election will remain the same: doing everything I can to elect Democrats and stop Donald Trump, a convicted felon whose agenda of raising families’ costs, banning abortion nationwide, and abusing the power of the White House to settle his own scores is completely wrong for Michigan,' she concluded.

Pete Buttigieg

Transportation Secretary and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg's name has also been mentioned by some hopeful Democrats looking for a younger generation of leaders.

The 42-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana gained national attention for running in the 2020 primary before joining the Biden administration. 

On Sunday he wrote 'Joe Biden has earned his place among the best and most consequential presidents in American history.'

'I am so proud to serve under his leadership, and thankful for his unwavering focus on what is best for our country,' he posted on X.

Buttigieg also said he would do all he can to help elect Harris as president.

'Kamala Harris is now the right person to take up the torch, defeat Donald Trump, and succeed Joe Biden as President,' he said in a statement. 'I have seen her extraordinary leadership firsthand, working closely with her during the 2020 campaign and then in the historically effective Biden-Harris administration.' 

Governor Gavin Newsom

California Governor Gavin Newsom has been a fierce supporter of President Biden and reacted to his exit from the presidential race with high praise. 

'President Biden has been an extraordinary, history-making president — a leader who has fought hard for working people and delivered astonishing results for all Americans. He will go down in history as one of the most impactful and selfless presidents,' Newsom reacted to Biden exiting the race on X. 

When previously asked about replacing Biden on the ticket, Newsom forcefully rejected it. On Sunday he endorsed Harris calling her 'tough, fearless, and tenacious.'

'With our democracy at stake and our future on the line, no one is better to prosecute the case against Donald Trump's dark vision and guide our country in a healthier direction than America’s Vice President Kamala Harris,' he wrote on X.

It is not yet clear where he stands on the VP spot. 

Senator Mark Kelly

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly's name has also been thrown in the mix as a potential running mate. 

The senator from the important battleground state praised President Biden upon his exit from the race and threw his support behind Harris.   

'I couldn’t be more confident that Vice President Kamala Harris is the right person to defeat Donald Trump and lead our country into the future,' he wrote on X. 'She has my support for the nomination, and Gabby and I will do everything we can to elect her President of the United States.'

Kelly called Biden 'one of the most consequential presidents in history' and praised him as 'someone who puts what he believes is best for his country above all else.'