With Donald Trump now emerging as the likely Republican nominee for president in 2024, it looks almost inevitable that, at some point, sooner or later, he will name his running mate.
It is fair to speculate that this choice will be based on a combination of political strategy, strong loyalty to Mr. Trump, excellent ability and experience, and credibility to be able to become president.
A number of persons would seem to fit these qualifications. However, some pundits have suggested that Trump may be looking especially closely at choosing a woman or person of color as his running mate, which would noticeably reduce the overall number of contenders.
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has recently emerged as one of the most outstanding contenders. She seems to check all or most of the political boxes for a Trump vice presidential candidate in 2024.
Representing an upstate New York district, she most recently made national headlines as the devastating inquisitor of three major university presidents at a congressional committee meeting concerning anti-semitism on U.S. campuses. As the female presidents of Harvard, Penn, and M.I.T. each dodged Ms. Stefanik’s questions that should have brought simple and direct answers, she expressed shock, disappointment, and rebuke to the campus administrators, and quickly the hearings became a national uproar over the state of higher education across the nation. The presidents of Penn and Harvard soon resigned. Previously only a rising figure in Washington, D.C., overnight Stefanik became a national political celebrity.
The daughter of an Italian-American mother and a Czech-American father, Stefanik attended and graduated from Harvard, after which she worked in the administration of George W. Bush. She then worked on the political campaigns of Tim Pawlenty, Paul Ryan, and Mitt Romney, each considered more moderate conservative, but in 2016 she became a supporter of Donald Trump.
First elected to Congress in 2014, Stefanik evolved into one of Trump’s staunchest supporters in the U.S. House, and in May 2021 became House GOP Conference Chair, the 4th highest post, succeeding Liz Cheney who had become a very vocal critic of Mr. Trump, and was ousted from the job as a result.
Born in Albany, New York, Ms. Stefanik is 39, a practicing Catholic, and married to Michael Manda, with whom she has one child.
President Trump’s vice president in his first term was Mike Pence, a former governor and congressman from Indiana. His selection brought a figure with considerable political experience to the ticket, and someone who had much credibility with conservative and evangelical Christian voters. He and Mr. Trump had a falling out, however, in early 2021 over issues that have been widely covered by the press in recent years.
In 2024, Mr. Trump is a more well-defined political entity with an established record to run on and would seem to need a different “balance” to his ticket. The selection of Stefanik or another woman would satisfy some who hold to the theory, accurate or not, that Mr. Trump is weak with suburban women. If the narrative is correct that Trump needs to work to improve his image with women, choosing a female vice president might be a good place to start.
Nonetheless, Mr. Trump has other serious vice presidential choices as well, including South Carolina U.S. Senator Tim Scott, who himself ran for president in 2024, but pulled out and heartily endorsed Mr. Trump. He appeared with the former president at the Trump victory celebration in New Hampshire.
Scott is 58, a former congressman, and U.S. Senator since 2013. Coming from a background of poverty, Mr. Scott’s optimistic campaign message distinguished his brief presidential run. He is active in his evangelical Christian church.
Another consideration for a Trump running mate is the fact that he is term-limited should he win in 2024. Whomever he chooses would not only be required to step in as president if necessary but would be presumed to be Mr. Trump’s successor in 2028. Voters will likely consider this as they weigh their 2024 options.
In any event, guessing who Donald Trump would choose as a running mate is only speculative. We don’t even know when he will make the announcement. Soon? Before the national convention? At the convention?
As for almost all presidential nominees, compatibility is a priority for their vice presidential choice, and the greatest likelihood is that his decision will give significant weight to that attribute.
Not on board with Stefanik. Her past association with Paul Ryan and Romney make me suspicious of her. She is characterized as a moderate conservative, which is not necessarily a good thing. Moderate is a synonym for persuadable. Leave her in the House for now while we observe her future votes.
Moderate Republican before”’? Like Bush Jr..NO THANK YOU’! Sorry, I will not support her for VP. I think the Governor of SOUTH DAKOTA is a great suggestion! Or the Governor of Arkansas. GREAT! Or Marsha Blackburn of Tenn?
President Trump’s vice president in his first term was Mike Pence, a former governor and congressman from Indiana. Who in the end turned out to be a TRAITOR! Lets hope and pray he does not make that mistake again.
There are a number of potential individuals on the GOP side that would make either a decent or very good candidate for V.P. There are also a few names being tossed around that would fatal mistakes.
We shouldn’t be using the standard of merely being better than the incoherent V.P. Harris as the standard by which we set our benchmark. That is literally setting the bar at the level of a dysfunctional 4-year-old. Since whoever Trump selects would be the de facto 2028 GOP nominee, if Trump is re-elected, it is extremely important to make the right choice to ensure the GOP doesn’t backslide into its old, short-sighted ways of trying to pick a V.P. solely on what might attract some Democrat or so-called Independent (mostly just Democrats who like to pretend they are “more special” than the average Democrat voters – See the recent interviews of dozens of so-called Independents after they voted (Democrats who changed their designation to Independent just to try and do their part to “get Trump” who voted in New Hampshire). Honestly less than two percent of all Democrat voters are truly persuadable at this point to vote for anyone but a Democrat candidate. Completely different perspective on nearly everything. So that shouldn’t be the main driver of who is selected for V.P. on the GOP side.
Trump has plenty of time to make a decision on the matter and it should be someone that is completely in sync with the agenda people are looking for Trump to carry out once he is in the White House again and who would be on board to take over seamlessly in 2028. So feel free to completely disregard all the talk from the TV pundits and the usual talking heads who endlessly speculate on things. Their job is to get ratings and to play up what the network heads want done.
She had progressed through Congress like a true Rino. Hard NO.
Politicians earn their positions by grift. The choice must be someone from the real world, that earned their pay.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders has proven her worth over and over. High moral character and knows the right thing to do. She speaks softly but scares the daylights out of people like Maxine Watters who visciously attacked her and family in a public restaurant.
I am onboard with Stefanik as VP. She is intelligent and strong. Most importantly I want Niki “The RINO” Haley nowhere near the white house.
why not pick candence owen?
Tim Scott. Definitely a conservative. Who knows, he might be able to lure Trey Gowdy to take the Attorney General position. I’m sure Trump would like for him to take that position.
Almost anyone is an intellectual giant compared to Harris. For the matter, the same could be said for Biden and most of his administration.
An ant is an intellectual giant compared to Harris. For that matter, that goes for Brandon too.
Don’t think anyone can tell Trump anything, but here goes…”KARI LAKE!”
not impressed
I could think of several reasons not to go with Stefanik or Tim Scott as VP. IMO the most obvious one is Kash Patel, who I would like to see as Trump’s VP. Trump will need a solid MAGA VP to help him drain the DC cesspool, not one that was entrenched there for many years.
Kash was Devin Nunes go to guy on the Russia delusion, became a member of Trump’s inner circle and has been quite adept at rooting out the snakes; or to use his nomenclature, the Government Gangsters. Patel would allow Trump to set policy while he takes on all the corrupt pols.
And what better follow-on to Trump come 2028 than more MAGA!
I like Scott and have from the start. However, Trump could not go wrong with Stefanik.
Kristi Noem of South Dakota would also be a great choice
Agreed
I had been on the fence with her, but I am coming around. She’s done some good things recently. At this point has gained my trust. We could do much worse
I think who ever President Trump picks is going to be a great Vice President
Elise is a disgusting and evil leftist!!! Hopefully she realizes that she will have to answer to God in the afterlife for her sins. It is unacceptable to call evil people like this Republicans.
She doesn’t have the skill set to be president should that ever be necessary
Vivek Ramaswamy would be the best choice, because his policies are like DJT’s and like Trump, he has so much money that he can’t be bought. Face it! That’s the real reason they hate Trump – he can’t be bought. With a smart, younger version of him as replacement, the incentive for the deep state to murder Trump is greatly diminished.
The movement toward progress would have been much better served had Ronald Reagan left H.W. Bush in the proper ditch in 1980. Just saying. It’s the elite GOP that destroyed the Reagan Revolution even in the second term.
The terror they exhibit is when the individual rights, movement Reaganism comes to capture the broad culture in spirit. Trump isn’t even that conservative but he doesn’t hate America and that triggered the NWO crowd (uniparty) that has sadly dominated since the fall of the Soviet. It not that historically uncommon for a great victory to mark peaks in nation states. Rome after Carthage, Greece after Persia, Russia after Napoleon all triggered social decline. WW2 and standing down Soviet Bolsheviks finally with Reagan marked peaks and decadence/corruption followed.
We shouldn’t give “moderates” keys to the car the VP office holds on the future. H.W. Bush was a tragic historic error. Sure, it got worse after him but predictably so.
I don’t know much about Stefanik,but I think Christie Noem would make a good choice for vp.
VP picks may be determinative of a significant number of votes in 2024. The awful specter of “President Harris” more than justifies NEVER voting for senile, decrepit, corrupt Creepy Sleepy Quid Pro Joe, but Donaldus Magnus should be careful to pick some one who increases the odds someone will vote for him.
why is it that most americans are centrists and most politicians are either left wing or right wing extremists?
I am confident a woman would be an e c excellent choice. In addition to Stefanik, maybe Tulsi Gabbar
Someone mentioned Kash Patel. I never thought of him, but having heard him relate his past experience and thoughts on problems/issues within our gov’t, I think he would be a truly good choice. He may even be able to work WITH Trump without abrasiveness. Not sure Stefanik or even Scott would be able to work under Trump and stand the test of his personality.
Gotta win the nomination before you start nominating veeps, people! First things first.
Noem
Secty State Pompaeo for VP
sounds good!
Marsha BLACKBURN
HOWEVER we may need both where they are.
Praying Our President makes the right choice for His VP..I believe He learned from 2016 who He can and can not trust
I like Stefanik, but she is still a little raw, she could use a few more years in Congress. Scott would be a great choice: he has a great, happy energy and everybody likes him (how can you not?) He’s also, as the article studiously avoided mentioning, an African American. Pretty hard to claim Trump is a racist when his running mate, and the person he is setting up to be the next Republican nominee and probable president, is a black man. But forget all that racial BS: he actually has the chops to be a good president. It’s win/win.
I like Tim Scott. I believe it would destroy the Dems race tactics as well. It would be interesting to see the percentage of black voters would come over to the Republican party. If Tim Scott was VP.
He should not select someone if it will create a Republican vacancy. If any of the suggested candidates is currently serving in office she or he should turn down the offer. Furthermore, he should not pick someone who is really no different in their thinking than him. This will not get him the votes he needs.
What about Condoleezza Rice? Or has she fallen out of favor with most conservatives?
Kari Lake
Since conspiracies can be fun; what if, after the “great reveal,” Mike Pence turns out to be the ultimate white hat after all? Not a “let down” or “T,” but a shrewd participant in the revealing of the “rot.”
I’ll vote only if Vivek Ramaswamy is on the ticket.
I live in Stefanik’s Congressional District (NY21) and have voted for her since her first primary when she won my vote over 2 other male challengers. It was Elise’s solid support of the 2nd Amendment that first caught my attention. She did start out as a typical NY/northeast moderate Republican, but after one term in congress and having her seat targeted by Pelosi, she made a hard right to the conservative wing. Since then all she has done is win, fundraise and teach other Republicans to win, and become one of the most ardent supporters of Trump in congress.
Congresswoman Stefanik would be a good choice for Vice President.
I like Elise Stefanik and would support Trump’s decision to choose her as a VP. Not because she is a woman, but because she is capable. Hopefully, Trump picks the BEST candidate and not one based on skin color or gender. Because, in the end, wouldn’t we be just like the Democrats and putting DEI ahead of meritocracy?
Yes, Yes, a thousand times YES. Elise Stefanik is solidly conservative, outspoken, intelligent, and articulate. More so than even Trump himself except for being outspoken and intelligent.
Nikki Haley is none of those things. She would be little more than an affirmative action hire by virtue of her gender. and that’s not to dismiss the value of having a female running mate because like it or not, in this day and age that counts for something.
But her greatest value, in my opinion, is that she would be a good influence on Trump, who has a poor track record when it come to discerning the difference between a conservative Republican and a Liberal one when it comes to choosing advisors.
And there is no better example of this than when Trump took the advice of Chris Christie when he replaced James Come with Christopher Wray.
Imagine a debate, though there would never be one, between a gutsy, intelligent, knowledgeable VP candidate like Elise Stefnic (or Kristi Noem) and a dithering dimwit like Kamala Harris.
As a lifetime conservative, history buff and political junkie of 50 years, Stefanik has some positive attributes. She’s intelligent, well spoken, has experience as a Member of Congress. Whether she is a true MAGA believer is unclear. Her past association with Romney (maybe the worst GOP presidential nominee in 60+ years) is not too inspiring.
Trump’s VP will need to be loyal to Trump, have the MAGA “seal of approval” and be prepared to assume the duties of POTUS. I agree with a previous post that choosing a moderate VP would be unlikely to attract many Dems or left-leaning independent voters. A better option for Trump is to choose a VP who is a flat-out conservative. I believe many young voters under age 30 and people of color are disillusioned with Biden. Someone like Vivek, Stefanik or Byron Donalds could energize these demographic groups. We definitely need to prepare to pass the conservative torch to a younger generation.
No to Kristi Noem. Her embarrassing affair with Corey L. and overall lack of accomplishments as Gov. of SD are disqualifying. No to Ben Carson — terrific man, but lacks energy and enthusiasm. Kari Lake first needs to win the AZ Senate race and gain some Senate experience. Haley, no way. Marsha Blackburn is a conservative but I cannot see her blazing the campaign trail.
Stephanik would be a great choice for VP in my opinion. She has a lot of intellect and is loyal to President Donald John Trump.
What’s wrong with her face?
oh wait it’s her normal face. That’s what lol
Be wary of any creature that bleeds and acts irrationally one week a month, every month without dying. Are they space aliens? Are they some long kept under wraps race of non humans?
No, they are wimmen and look at all the awesome things this nation has done since they somehow got the vote.
One heatbeat away from the Presidency…….a woman?
The horror………..the horror.