Harris’s VP list: Gretchen Whitmer and Roy Cooper say they’re not in running

Michigan and North Carolina governors out as remaining likely running mates are white men governing swing states

Two lawmakers seen as strong contenders in the race to become Kamala Harris's running mate have announced that they are not in the running. On Monday, Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer and North Carolina governor Roy Cooper both said that while they support the vice-president, they will be staying in their posts in their respective states.

This just wasn't the right time for North Carolina and for me to potentially be on a national ticket," Cooper said in a statement posted to Twitter/X on Monday. As I've said from the beginning, she has an outstanding list of people from which to choose, and we'll all work to make sure she wins."