Harris campaign vetting at least 7 Dems for VP, list excludes Gov. Andy Beshear

REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — Vice President Kamala Harris' presidential campaign has requested vetting materials from at least seven Democrats under consideration to be her vice presidential running-mate, USA TODAY has learned from a source familiar with the process.

Though his name has been widely circulated as a contender, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear did not make the list.

Those being vetted for the job include North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, USAT reported.

The source said other Democrats not included in the group of seven being vetted could still emerge as contenders but are not currently on the Harris campaign's radar.

The Courier Journal reached out to Beshear's campaign manager but has not received a response.

In a interview on CNN on Monday night, Beshear said "he had not been personally asked at this point for vetting materials" when asked whether or not Harris' campaign had requested information from him for vetting purposes.

It's unclear whether that means Beshear is out of the running as a potential vice presidential candidate. His name has been floated around as a possible contender since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race Sunday afternoon, though he has not publicly expressed interest in the role.

The Harris campaign has also requested vetting materials from one Democrat whose name has received much less speculation as a vice-presidential contender: Cedric Richmond, a former congressman from Louisiana who served as a top aide in the Biden White House and on his campaign.

The Harris campaign declined to comment.

Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on July 22, 2024.
Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks at her campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware, on July 22, 2024.

This is a developing story.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Harris campaign vetting VP list that excludes Andy Beshear