Editorial: Progressives air wish list for Kamala Harris’s VP

Even with Vice President Kamala Harris taking over the Democratic race for the White House from President Joe Biden, comparisons with the 2020 Trump-Biden matchup remain strong.

Progressives are volunteering as election sages this time around, too.

Back in 2020 it was the Bernie Bros that Joe Biden had to win over, the phalanx of supporters loyal to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. They carried political heft, if only for their ability to help unite the party behind Biden.

Remember the Unity Task Force? That put climate change and environmental justice, key issues with Sanders, on Biden’s front campaign burner.

This year, some 50 progressive leaders signed onto a letter released Tuesday telling Harris that they “whole-heartedly” endorsed her campaign while noting that “it is difficult to overstate the importance of your decision in selecting a Vice-Presidential running mate.”

They have suggestions.

As the Hill reported, they’re urging Harris to consider Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) or Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) as her running mate and rule out Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D).

They like Walz and Beshear because the two 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.”

Shapiro’s great sin? Well, while he is a “valued member of the Democratic coalition,” he has become known for his “shortcomings as a national candidate,” including “controversial policy decisions” like his backing of school vouchers.

Do you know who also backs school vouchers and school choice? Voters. A poll from RealClear Opinion Research taken last June found 71% of registered voters supported school choice, vs. 13% opposed. Across party lines, 66% of Democrats, 80% of Republicans, and 69% of Independents said they support the policy.

Who doesn’t like school vouchers/school choice? Teachers’ unions. The American Federation of Teachers announced a resolution opposing the voucher system.

They would be one of the “communities we must engage.”

“Choosing Tim Walz or Andy Beshear as Vice-President Kamala Harris’ running mate will invigorate the nation by rallying all of our diverse communities, especially young voters, public education advocates, and the working class,” California Democratic Party Progressive Caucus Chair Fatima Iqbal-Zubair said in a statement.

Harris is in the middle of choosing her running mate ahead of the Democratic National Convention next month. Shapiro, Beshear and Walz are among those being vetted, as well as others like Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).

An ABC News/Ipsos poll released this month showed Kelly as the most favorable among other potential vice presidential picks. Bad news for those progressive lawmakers: Shapiro came in second.

But that’s how potential voters feel, and one thing that’s certain in the public sausage-making demonstration of politics, is that Beltway power players are the ones whose voices are loudest – and listened to.