Staff Reports
As Vice President Kamala Harris gears up to select her running mate, one can practically hear the collective sigh of relief from her supporters. After all, the ultimate challenge for her is not just who will join her on the Democratic ticket, but more importantly, how they plan to abandon ship if they win. It’s almost like musical chairs, but with a political twist that leaves more than just a few governance seats empty.
First up in the Democratic lineup is Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania. If Shapiro makes the leap to the vice presidency, he will need to promptly hand over the keys to the Governor’s Mansion to Democratic Lt. Gov. Austin Davis. Pennsylvanians might want to take notes, as Davis will be in charge, but the highlight reel from his tenure remains to be seen. If Harris wins, the state will be temporarily governed by a man who was elected by simply being Shapiro’s sidekick two years prior. Sounds like an episode of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” gone wrong—but without the prize.
Next in the lineup is Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota. If Walz taps out to join Harris, he’s doing so with the knowledge that he’ll be leaving his constituents in the capable hands of Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. Minnesota’s Constitution seems to have a fondness for dynamic duos too, as the president of the state Senate Bobby Joe Champion would take over as lieutenant governor. This political relay race might not inspire confidence in Minnesota’s leadership, but at least it ensures job security for the Democrats, as they’ve got an entire Plan B waiting in the wings.
And let’s not forget about Senator Mark Kelly from Arizona, the lone legislator in the running to be Harris’s vice-presidential sidekick. If Kelly kicks his Senate seat to the curb, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs gets the delightful task of appointing a replacement. One wonders what sorts of qualifications will be considered—perhaps they can draw from the same well of “likeability” that fueled Kelly’s successful run in a special election. Meanwhile, Arizona voters will get to exercise their democratic right to pick a Senate replacement every other year like clockwork, proving that in this 21st-century political circus, there are more hands in the cookie jar than ever before.
Harris is expected to unveil her choice in a rally in Philadelphia, where supporters can gather and cheer her decision without any consideration of the potential fallout for anyone else involved. Let’s face it—these days, good governance is rarely the priority for Democrats. What matters most is maintaining the power dynamic, even if it means watching others take a permanent vacation from their offices.
In the end, while Harris contemplates who will join her for the ride, Americans can only hope that this game of political leapfrog doesn’t lead to a leadership vacuum in any of the states involved. After all, voters depend on their elected officials to be present, not to be merely hopping onto the next flight to Washington D.C. This dance of political musical chairs is one that might just leave constituents wondering whether anyone is truly at the helm.
