Donald Trump is expected to accept the presidential nomination at the Republican National Convention next week after he names not only his running mate but also the early favorite to be the MAGA standard-bearer in 2028.
Mr. Trump, who teased an announcement as soon as Tuesday night, has been open about some of those under consideration, but he has kept his cards close to the vest on a decision poised to reverberate across the U.S. political scene for years.
“President Trump’s selection of a running mate is more important for two reasons. First, it will provide a contrast to Kamala Harris, who is truly a disaster,” said Charlie Gerow, a delegate to the Republican National Convention from Pennsylvania. “And second, the vice president will likely be the next president of the United States after 2028.”
The fuss and furor over a vice presidential announcement typically subsides after an initial media blitz, but this year is shaping up to be different.
President Biden has failed to assuage concerns about his cognitive abilities, stoking speculation that Vice President Kamala Harris or another prominent Democrat will replace him on the ticket.
If Mr. Trump wins the election, he would be limited to a single four-year term. A loss could dampen his future political ambitions.
The former president’s loyal followers are looking to him for guidance on the MAGA heir apparent, though some Republicans hope he chooses someone from a more traditional mold.
Mr. Trump has confirmed that North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Sens. J.D. Vance of Ohio and Marco Rubio of Florida are on his short list for a running mate.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson are also thought to be in consideration.
“We have a lot of good people,” Mr. Trump said on Fox News’ “Hannity.” “As they call it, we have a great bench in the Republican Party.”
He has sent mixed messages about where he is in the decision-making process and when he will make an announcement.
Last month, he said he had made up his mind. This week, he said he was still considering his options amid speculation that Mr. Biden could step aside.
“I haven’t made a final decision, but I have some ideas as to where we’re going and a little bit we wanted to see what they’re doing, to be honest, because it might make a difference,” he said.
He may announce his running mate in the coming days or after the Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee on Monday.
“I’d love to do it during the convention,” Mr. Trump said.
The coyness has heightened anticipation about a decision that could affect national politics for years.
That extends to members of the Republican National Committee who have never been thrilled about Mr. Trump’s takeover of the party. They are hoping for a vice presidential nominee who can appeal to the populist tendencies of the MAGA movement without selling out conservative principles.
Here’s the short list:
J.D. Vance
Mr. Vance has had one of the most dramatic public evolutions regarding Mr. Trump. The self-declared “Never Trump guy” in 2016 has become one of the former president’s fiercest allies and is familiar with the DNA of the MAGA movement.
Mr. Vance, 39, has flashed his smarts and political skills as a surrogate for Mr. Trump on the television talk show circuit. He has welcomed clashes with the media, attacked Mr. Biden’s policy vision and sang Mr. Trump’s praises.
Elected in 2022, Mr. Vance is a former Marine and author of the bestselling “Hillbilly Elegy.” He graduated from Yale Law School, where he met his wife, with whom he has three children.
That biography could help strengthen Mr. Trump’s appeal across the Rust Belt states, particularly Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Mr. Vance’s understanding of the MAGA movement makes him a natural successor to Mr. Trump.
Indeed, Mr. Vance embodies Trump’s populist streak. He questions the taxpayer dollars sent to help Ukraine defend itself from Russian invaders and embraces Mr. Trump’s hard-nosed approach to securing the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Trump can do the job. Biden can’t,” Mr. Vance said in a recent interview.
Mr. Vance is open about his desire to be vice president but has said he is honored to serve in the Senate and to help Mr. Trump in any way possible.
“Let’s get back to success,” he said. “Let’s get back to peace and prosperity.”
The vice presidential chatter around Mr. Rubio, 53, has been rising for months, and some political oddsmakers now rank him as the favorite.
Since riding the tea party wave to victory in the 2010 elections, Mr. Rubio has been considered one of the Republican Party’s most natural talents.
Mr. Rubio clashed with Mr. Trump in the 2016 Republican primary race when he ran as a military hawk. Mr. Trump nicknamed him “Little Marco.”
Since then, Mr. Rubio has welcomed the chance to be a go-to voice on national security and global affairs as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence.
Political analysts say the son of Cuban immigrants could help strengthen Mr. Trump’s hand with Hispanic voters and ease concerns among Republican primary voters who supported Nikki Haley’s more robust foreign policy vision.
“Donald Trump’s running on common sense, on restoring common sense versus the lunacy of the last four years in the far left and the shadow government that now is running our country with Joe Biden as its figurehead,” Mr. Rubio said Sunday on CNN. “That’s what he’s running against.
“All I care about at this point, and what I care about the most, is that we can’t afford another four years like the last four,” he said. “And I’m willing to help in any way I can.”
A vice presidential candidacy would come with a catch. Mr. Rubio would likely have to move out of Florida because the Constitution prohibits the Electoral College from voting for a president and vice president from the same state.
Mr. Burgum, 67, has gone from being a little-known two-term governor from North Dakota running for the Republican presidential nomination to one of Mr. Trump’s more trusted advisers.
His governing experience outside Washington and low-wattage style could help balance Mr. Trump’s boisterous behavior and boost the ticket’s appeal with mild-mannered moderate and independent-minded voters in battleground states.
While governing in an oil-boom state, Mr. Burgum has built strong ties with major players in the energy industry.
“If you believe in liquid fuels, you’re on Team USA,” Mr. Burgum said recently on Fox Business Network. “If you believe in the whole EV, then you’re on team China because you can’t have an EV car industry in this country without buying batteries from China.
“The climate extremists who are driving policy in Biden’s administration are saying, ‘Hey, let’s just become dependent for our transportation future on China.’”
Although Mr. Burgum’s lack of pizazz will increase the chances the spotlight stays on Mr. Trump, it also makes him, arguably, the most lackluster possible pick.
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.
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