Former President Joe Biden initially preferred Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as his running mate during the 2020 election cycle but ultimately chose Kamala Harris, according to a new report examining the decision-making process behind his vice presidential selection, as reported by the Gateway Pundit.
The details were outlined in a profile published by The Atlantic, which focused on Whitmer’s political trajectory and potential future role in national politics.
The report describes internal discussions and external pressures that shaped Biden’s choice at a pivotal moment in the 2020 campaign.
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Whitmer, who gained national attention in 2020 for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and public disputes with then-President Donald Trump, had emerged as a leading contender for the vice presidential nomination.
By the summer of that year, she was undergoing formal vetting for the role.
According to the report, Whitmer was the first finalist to meet with Biden in person, traveling to Delaware in August 2020 for discussions about the position.
Individuals familiar with the process indicated that the meeting went well and that Whitmer was prepared to accept the offer if it had been extended.
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However, a former senior staffer for Whitmer told The Atlantic that broader political considerations influenced the final decision.
“The moment called for a black running mate,” the staffer said, referencing the national climate following protests and unrest after the death of George Floyd.
The report adds that Biden “had to choose Kamala Harris,” though the staffer stated, “But I think he wanted it to be Whitmer.”
A former adviser who had worked with both Biden and Harris also commented on the claim, saying that the assessment carried “some weight.”
Whitmer later confirmed that she would have accepted the vice presidential nomination if it had been offered.
In a December 2020 interview with Detroit’s FOX 2, she said, “If Joe Biden had called and said, ‘I need you to be my partner and be my running mate,’ I would have said yes. This election was that important.”
At the same time, Whitmer indicated she felt relieved that she was not ultimately selected, noting her preference to remain in her role as governor of Michigan.
Biden had publicly committed to selecting a woman as his running mate during the 2020 campaign.
Whitmer was widely viewed as a strong candidate due to her political alignment with Biden and her standing in a key Midwestern state.
The report also notes that at the time, several Democratic leaders and activists advocated for the selection of a Black woman, with some suggesting that choosing Whitmer could have affected support in critical states.
After the selection was made, Whitmer actively campaigned in support of the Biden-Harris ticket and continued to back Biden through his 2024 reelection campaign before he withdrew.
The report provides additional insight into the internal considerations and external pressures that influenced one of the most closely watched decisions of the 2020 election cycle.
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