Recently, there has been speculation and excitement among voters about who former President Donald Trump will choose as his running mate. This decision is clearly significant, with many guesses swirling around. Potential candidates, such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio, have stated, “Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick will be decided by one person, and that is Donald Trump himself.”
Rumors can offer various insights, and the final outcome is rarely unexpected. But how do we know if Trump has made up his mind already? At a recent rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, Trump spoke about North Dakota’s 33rd Governor Doug Burgum, saying, “There’s nobody better than him in terms of knowledge. He made his fortune through technology (Burgum was a former senior vice president at Microsoft, earning a high nine-figure salary), but he might know more about energy than anyone I know. So get ready, Doug Burgum is fantastic.”
Burgum, a member of Trump’s inner circle, rode on Trump’s private Boeing 757 jet known as “Trump Force One,” indicating some level of approval from Trump. The Governor expressed that working with the former President is like a beautiful breeze on his back.
A recent poll by The New York Times and Siena College shows Trump leading astonishingly by 13 points in Nevada, 10 points in Georgia, 7 points in Arizona, 3 points in Pennsylvania, and 2 points in Wisconsin. CNN reported, “The Trump coalition is changing and becoming more diverse, with non-whites showing a total increase of 6% over four years.”
Other top contenders include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Tucker Carlson, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former TV news anchor Kari Lake, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem among women. Unfortunately, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is out of contention, as Trump posted on his “Truth Social” platform on May 11, stating she is not under consideration for the vice presidential candidate but wishing her well.
So, among Trump’s potential vice presidential picks, who could bring in more minority votes? Names like African American South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, Rubio, former US Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, African American Florida Congressman Byron Donalds, and Indian American entrepreneur Ramaswamy might come to mind.
Another female candidate is former Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, known for her military background and congressional experience. Gabbard recently switched party alignments, becoming an independent, but she has become a popular figure among Republicans.
In a recent survey by Harvard University CAPS/Harris of 1,660 registered voters, DeSantis and Ramaswamy garnered 23% and 13% support, respectively, ranking as the top two favorites among Republican voters for Trump’s vice presidential pick. Scott received 12% support, Gabbard at 8%, and Burgum with 2%.
However, in a nationwide grassroots survey conducted by California Republican representatives Rudy Melendez and Evelyn Jones among 1,028 GOP supporters, Gabbard surprisingly led with 20%, followed by Ramaswamy at 13%, DeSantis at 11%, Scott at 7%, and Carlson at 6%, with other candidates trailing.
With 2.4 million fans on the social media platform X, Gabbard’s prominence is undeniable. Surveyor Melendez mentioned, “For Tulsi Gabbard, her new book has brought her great publicity, so I’m not surprised by her polling results. But I believe Trump might consider other candidates for the vice presidency.”
Recently, many of Trump’s supporters have been rallying in New York to support him during his legal trials, including Governor Burgum, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Congressman Donalds. It is foreseeable that Trump may deploy lesser-known but loyal supporters like Burgum as his vice presidential pick, potentially shifting more focus onto the main candidate, Donald Trump.
Who do you think will become Trump’s running mate?