The decision-making process behind a vice presidential pick is rarely simple, but the reporting around Joe Biden’s 2020 choice adds a layer of tension that continues to echo years later. At the center of it sits Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, a figure who, by multiple accounts, was not only under serious consideration but was prepared to step into the role if called upon.
During the summer of 2020, as Biden’s campaign moved through one of the most volatile political climates in recent memory, Whitmer emerged as a viable contender. According to accounts cited by The Atlantic, she had been vetted thoroughly and was ready to accept the position.
One former senior staffer close to Whitmer suggested that Biden himself may have leaned in her direction. Yet the broader political environment at the time appears to have narrowed the field in a decisive way.
The killing of George Floyd had sparked nationwide unrest, reshaping the political calculus for Democrats. The pressure to select a Black running mate became a defining factor, described bluntly by insiders as something that “had to be” addressed.
Kamala Harris ultimately became the choice, a move that aligned with the moment but, according to some accounts, may not have fully reflected Biden’s initial preference.
The internal dynamics surrounding Harris were not without friction. Reports indicate that even Jill Biden expressed reservations, particularly over Harris’s prior criticisms of Joe Biden during the Democratic primary debates. That tension did not derail the decision, but it underscores how contested the process was behind closed doors.
Whitmer, meanwhile, continued navigating her own political challenges. Her handling of COVID-19 restrictions drew both national attention and criticism, especially after incidents where her personal conduct appeared to conflict with her policies. These controversies followed her into subsequent years, shaping perceptions of her leadership style.
By the time the 2024 election cycle unfolded, Whitmer’s name resurfaced quietly among Democrats considering alternatives after Biden’s withdrawal from the race. Yet she declined to pursue a presidential run, later reflecting that the timing and circumstances left little room for maneuver.
Her remark that “it had to be [Harris]” once again points back to the same structural and political pressures that influenced the 2020 decision.
