The Democratic vice president odds show a tight race between candidates who were in line for the presidency only weeks earlier. Political betting sites have VP betting odds on the most obvious choices and August’s possible surprises.
If you think you know which of these candidates could be Harris’ VP pick, then you have until August 19 to place your bets. If she doesn’t announce her pick at her virtual confirmation on August 7, then she’ll announce it at the live convention in Chicago.
Either way, Harris needs all the help she can get in the 2024 presidential race. Let’s see what the Democratic VP odds tell about the potential candidates.
Democratic VP Odds in 2024
The Democratic VP nominee odds show the VP shortlist. Other names are pretend candidates with little money on them. Here are the odds on the possible Democratic vice president candidates, according to Bovada:
| Candidate | Odds |
|---|---|
| Mark Kelly | +145 |
| Josh Shapiro | +250 |
| Ray Cooper | +600 |
| Pete Buttigieg | +850 |
| Andy Beshear | +1000 |
| Tim Waltz | +3000 |
| Gavin Newsom | +7500 |
| Hillary Clinton | +7500 |
| Michelle Obama | +7500 |
The favorite candidates for the Democratic VP ticket are Mark Kelly, Roy Cooper, and Josh Shapiro. Mark Kelly is a senator from Arizona, a crucial swing state if Democrats want to win the White House. Roy Cooper is the governor of North Carolina, and Josh Shapiro is the governor of Pennsylvania. These are also crucial swing states to watch in November.
However, other candidates could come out of the woodwork. Andy Beshear is a Democratic governor of Kentucky, a red state. Gretchen Whitmer was a favorite to replace Biden as the presidential nominee. Her odds for Vice President have plummeted, but she’s the governor of Michigan, yet another vital swing state.
There are Democratic VP betting odds for many other candidates, so feel free to check what Bovada has to offer.
Top Favorites for the Democratic VP Nomination
There are four favorites for the Democratic VP spot. Three of them hail from swing states. The fourth is the governor of Kentucky, a red state, which reveals a strategic approach within the Democratic Party.
Here’s what you need to know about Harris’ VP shortlist.
Mark Kelly (+145)
Mark Kelly was elected to the Senate in 2020, but his wife was a prominent congresswoman decades prior. His military background and prior career as an astronaut contributed to his broad appeal.
Mark Kelly for VP is a slam-dunk.
– Naval aviator
– Astronaut
– U.S. Senator from a swing state
– Husband of Gabby Giffords
– Better name recognition than other candidates pic.twitter.com/HwKPr9IuLp— Paul Wren (@ElevenPointTwo) July 21, 2024
Kelly also put himself at the center of Arizona’s political transformation. It used to be a reliably Republican stronghold. However, Politico noted the three things have turned Arizona into a swing state:
- Growing Latino population
- Migration from California
- Leftward movement of college-educated voters
His experience running in a state with such a strong conservative base makes him an attractive running mate for what’s sure to be a close presidential race.
Roy Cooper (+600)
When Kamala Harris was California’s attorney general, Roy Cooper was North Carolina’s. They got to know each other in this position before they moved on to new positions. Roy Cooper is one of the Democratic governors of a conservative state. Cooper’s friendship with Harris and his governorship could launch Cooper to Harris’ VP spot.
Donald Trump is coming to North Carolina today but the choice between him and @KamalaHarris couldn’t be clearer. pic.twitter.com/WYv1nqiQc4
— Roy Cooper (@RoyCooperNC) July 24, 2024
He could also swipe North Carolina from the Republicans. This is normally a red state, but Trump has had an increasingly difficult time holding onto it.
In 2016, Trump won North Carolina by 3.7%. In 2020, he only won it by 1.3%. His attachment to policies agaisnt abortion and election denial have increasingly alienated him among independents, unaffiliated voters, and of course, Democrats. Cooper would make a strong addition to Harris’ ticket.
Josh Shapiro (+250)
Before Biden dropped out, Trump was leading by a comfortable margin in Pennsylvania. He led by five to six points according to Emerson College. Within a week of Harris’ candidacy, Trump was only leading by two points.
Josh Shapiro is the governor and could deliver this vital swing state to Harris. Pennsylvania has 19 electoral college votes, which doesn’t sound like much, but is a significant chunk of the 152 electoral college votes from states with win margins less than 5%.
The contrast in this race could not be clearer and the road to victory in November runs right through Pennsylvania – where this collective work began.
I will do everything I can to help elect @KamalaHarris as the 47th President of the United States. pic.twitter.com/sqCkiAmCV7
— Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) July 21, 2024
It’s unlikely that a Democrat can take the White House without Pennsylvania. That reality makes Josh Shapiro a competitive choice for Harris’ Vice President.
Andy Beshear (+1000)
Andy Beshear is among the most interesting governors among the Democrats running red states. Kentucky is comfortably red and has been sending the conservative juggernaut, Mitch McConnell, to the Senate for decades. Trump won Kentucky by about 26% in 2020. At first, Beshear’s VP potential seems puzzling.
Andy Beshear defeats Daniel Cameron in the Kentucky governor’s race. pic.twitter.com/sXMLfNmP27
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) November 8, 2023
However, according to Ballotpedia, Beshear ran a tough campaign that included:
- Suing opioid manufacturers
- Arresting child predators
- Protecting seniors from fraud and abuse
- Protecting teachers’ pensions
These hit crime issues that Republicans accuse Democrats of being soft on. With Harris’ prosecutorial background and Beshear’s alignment with the ails of ordinary Americans, they could be a formidable team.
Best Sleepers for a Democratic Vice President Candidate
There are two sleepers with odds for Democratic VP worth considering. The first is the governor of Illinois, J. B. Pritzker. The other is Gretchen Whitmer, the governor of Michigan. Both are governors of important states for Democrats. However, only one of those governors oversees a swing state.
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Pritzker has a unique background for a Democratic candidate. He’s a billionaire who made his money from entrepreneurship. His war chest would be a great asset to a young campaign that has to pay for polling and targeted ads.
However, his position as Harris’ VP isn’t necessary to tap into that money. He’ll support the Democratic candidate regardless of whether he’s governor or a potential vice president.
Attributes that are more familiar to Democrats are aggressive anti-Trump rhetoric. Pritzker made a name for himself during the pandemic – and since – for attacks on Trump. His past aggression and Harris’ prosecutorial background would make for a formidable and articulate attack on Trump and his philosophy that hasn’t been mounted since the 2020 campaign.
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The second sleeper is Gretchen Whitmer. Between the two, she is the more likely to make Harris’ VP slot. Whitmer is the governor of Michigan, a swing state that Democrats can’t afford to lose in November.
She’s also nationally recognized for pandemic-era feuds with Trump and for avoiding a kidnapping and assassination plot. Even if she’s not among the top choices, Whitmer is underrated at +8000.
2024 Democratic Vice President Prediction and Betting Pick
The most important assets potential Democratic VPs are bringing to the 2024 race are their states. It’s no coincidence that the shortlist is made up of governors or senators from states that Democrats need to win.
If you want to play your VP candidates safe, then Mark Kelly is the best choice. Arizona is a vital battleground state, and Kelly’s popularity and broad appeal could round out Harris’ ticket.
If you’re willing to play it risky, Gretchen Whitmer is the best sleeper. She’s from a vital state, and her national profile could be a publicity and fundraising asset in the months ahead.
Combining the safe pick with a small wager on a more adventurous candidate is the way to go here.
