Mark Kelly could be Kamala Harris' VP pick. What to know about him, others in the running

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona was among seven people asked to submit personal information as part of the vice-presidential vetting process, indicating he was under serious consideration by Kamala Harris to join her on the Democratic ticket.

Kelly, D-Ariz., is part of a list that reportedly includes Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

All of those people were widely believed to be in the running for the position since Vice President Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Here's what to know about each of them.

Who is Mark Kelly?

Age: 60

Current position: U.S. senator from Arizona, to fill the seat left open by the late Sen. John McCain in 2020 and elected for second time in 2022.

One important thing to know: His background as a former astronaut and naval aviator gives him a platform to challenge former President Donald Trump for his past comments on veterans.

What he could bring to the ticket as vice president: Kelly could give Democrats a boost in Arizona, a crucial battleground state. He is the husband of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head during a 2011 mass casualty event at a Tucson-area grocery store. Their story could prove powerful as gun violence takes center stage in the 2024 election.

Who is Mark Kelly? All about the US senator from Arizona and Gabrielle Giffords' husband

Possible sticking point: Kelly only has served in elected office for four years and is somewhat unknown outside of Arizona. If he were to join the ticket and win in November, Arizona would hold an election to fill his Senate seat in 2026. That could put his Democratic seat in jeopardy of being flipped by Republicans because Arizona's elections are often so close.

Who is Roy Cooper?

Age: 67

Current position: Governor of North Carolina, in his second term.

One important thing to know: Cooper rose to national attention for opposing a bill that wanted to ban transgender individuals from public restrooms matching their gender identity.

What he could bring to the ticket as vice president: Harris already has a working relationship with Cooper. They both served as their state’s respective attorney general. Cooper has won six statewide elections in the key 2024 battleground state of North Carolina, including two governor's races, and could help Democrats carry the Southern swing territory.

Possible sticking point: Cooper is one of the oldest candidates on the vice presidential shortlist at 67, and the Harris campaign is appealing to young voters. He's relatively unknown outside of his home state, and could face scrutiny for his decision as North Carolina attorney general to dismiss charges against three Duke University lacrosse players who were accused of sexual assault.

Who is Gretchen Whitmer?

Age: 52

Current position: Governor of Michigan since 2019, winning reelection by double digits in 2022.

One important thing to know: During her two terms as governor, Whitmer has focused on working across the aisle on issues at top of mind for Americans, including job growth, economic investment and infrastructure.

What she could bring to the ticket as vice president: Michigan is a state considered a crucial battleground for winning the White House this year. Whitmer also is an outspoken advocate for abortion rights. A Harris-Whitmer ticket would be the first all-woman ticket in a U.S. presidential race.

Possible sticking point: A woman has never won a presidential race in the United States, making it a risky choice in the eyes of some Democrats. Former President Donald Trump defeated the Democratic Party's first-ever woman nominee in 2016, and he's back on the ballot this year.

Who is Josh Shapiro?

Age: 51

Current position: Shapiro became governor in 2023. He was the state’s attorney general from 2017 to 2023.

One important thing to know: He gained national name recognition for his quick response to the 2023 Interstate 95 overpass collapse and, more recently, his leadership after the attempted assassination of Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

What he could bring to the ticket as vice president: Shapiro has the highest gubernatorial rating of any Pennsylvania governor in decades, and he could prove to be important in delivering an electoral victory for Democrats in the must-win swing state.

Possible sticking point: Pennsylvania is a battleground, so if Shapiro were to run for the White House and win, Republicans may take control of the governor's office in an election to replace him. Shapiro would also face scrutiny from progressives for his moderate stance on the Israel-Hamas war. Shapiro has not called for a cease-fire, as many activists want, but has expressed support for a two-state solution.

Who is Tim Walz?

Current position: Minnesota governor, in his second term.

One important thing to know: Walz has served two terms as Minnesota’s governor and six terms in the U.S. Congress, giving him more nuanced leadership experience than many of the VP contenders.

What he could bring to the ticket as vice president: He has spoken openly about his family’s personal experience with IVF treatments and would be a strong champion for reproductive freedom on the campaign trail. He is a former teacher and pro-union Democrat.

Possible sticking point: Walz is relatively unknown on the national scene. He could alienate young, progressive voters due to his steadfast support for Israel. Walz also faced backlash from the other side of the aisle for his handling of riots in Minnesota after the murder of George Floyd.

Who is J.B. Pritzker?

Age: 59

Current position: Illinois governor since 2019.

One important thing to know: His progressive record as governor of Illinois, including proposals for a $15 an hour minimum wage and legalizing recreational marijuana, could appeal to the Democratic Party’s left flank.

What he could bring to the ticket as vice president: Pritzker, an heir to the Hyatt hotel chain with a personal net worth of more than $3 billion, is known for raking in millions for the Democratic Party over the years. One of the most outspoken Trump critics in the Democratic Party, Pritzker isn’t shy about taking on the former president and would be expected to perform well in a debate against Vance.

Possible sticking point: Harris doesn't need a home state assist from Pritzker. Biden beat Trump by 17 percentage points in Illinois in 2020. The governor has also faced scrutiny for dodging taxes, namely when he removed toilets from his luxury home in Chicago to lower his property taxes in 2018.

Who is Andy Beshear?

Age: 46

Current position: Governor of Kentucky, in his second term.

One important thing to know: Beshear, 46, has bipartisan leadership credentials, having worked with a Republican Legislature to lead his state through multiple disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic, tornadoes and floods.

What he could bring to the ticket as vice president: The twice-elected governor of a deep-red state, Beshear has a proven ability to garner support from a wide coalition of voters, including Trump Republicans and moderates.

Possible sticking point: It is highly unlikely that Democrats will flip deep-red Kentucky, so Beshear probably won't push the Democratic ticket over the edge in his home state. Beshear has never run a national campaign and doesn't have much name recognition from voters outside of Kentucky.

Includes information from Arizona Republic and USA TODAY reporters.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: VP pick: Harris may be vetting these politicians, including Mark Kelly