Donald Trump’s Vice President Hopefuls Audition for the Role

The annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) kicks off on Wednesday and could offer hints as to who wants to be Donald Trump’s next potential running mate.

The former president is set to headline the four-day event in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C., with the 77-year-old seeking to secure Republican support amid his latest White House bid.

Trump is within touching distance of clinching the 2024 Republican nomination following key victories in the Iowa and Nevada caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, with polls suggesting he will also win the upcoming race in South Carolina.

However, it is still unclear as to who Trump will be choosing as his next running mate, with other Republican figures who have been announced as guest speakers at CPAC among the shortlist of potential candidates.

New York congresswoman Elise Stefanik, former Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem are among the confirmed names appearing at CPAC this week who frequently have been touted as Trump’s choice of running mate, a role which could see them enter the White House in 2025 as vice president.

Christopher Devine, an associate professor of political science at the University of Dayton, Ohio, and author of the book Do Running Mates Matter?: The Influence of Vice Presidential Candidates in Presidential Elections, has suggested we are in “veepstakes season” with regards to predicting who Trump may want to be included on his 2024 ticket, with CPAC a perfect time for potential candidates to promote themselves for the position.

“It is early in that process and I do not expect that Donald Trump will make his decision until the summer,” Devine told Newsweek.

“But that won’t stop VP aspirants from auditioning for the role. And CPAC gives them the stage to do it.”

Other names who have been suggested include South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and former Arizona gubernatorial hopeful and election denier Kari Lake.

The staunch Trump loyalist who is running for the Arizona Senate seat is also speaking at this year’s CPAC event, although Devine suggested her political ambitions may prevent her from being offered the next potential vice president position.

“Kari Lake is always a prominent speaker at these events, but I have a hard time believing that Trump will seriously consider her—if for no other reason than the fact that she is running in a competitive race for senator in Arizona right now,” Devine said.

“Picking her would essentially mean abandoning a race that could decide control of the Senate.”

Another Trump loyalist who Devine suggests is “someone to watch” for the Republican running mate role is Ohio congressman Jim Jordan.

While his name has not been touted as frequently as others, Devine said the chairman of the influential House Judiciary Committee could use his upcoming spot at CPAC to “elbow his way into the conversation.”

Trump has given no real specific indication as to who he may pick as a running mate.

In a January interview with Fox News, Trump said there is “no rush” for him to make the decision, but he appears to be leaning towards one name in particular.

“The person that I think I like is a very good person, pretty standard. I think people won’t be that surprised, but I would say there’s probably a 25 percent chance it would be that person,” Trump said.

Recently, Stefanik, who some betting companies consider the favorite to be named Trump’s running mate, reiterated her loyalty to the former president by telling CNN she would “not have done” what former vice president Mike Pence did on January 6, 2021, and allowed the certification of the 2020 Election results as required by the Constitution.

Stefanik also told CNN she would be “proud” to serve in Trump’s next administration when asked about her being considered Trump’s vice presidential pick.

“But we have a lot to do. I have a lot of responsibility as the Republican conference chair,” Stefanik said.