Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Running mate

A running mate is a political candidate who joins a primary contender on a joint electoral ticket, most prominently the vice-presidential nominee selected to accompany a presidential candidate in United States elections. The choice typically aims to complement the presidential nominee by providing regional, ideological, or demographic balance to expand voter appeal and unify party factions. Empirical research, drawing on electoral data from multiple cycles, demonstrates that running mates rarely shift vote shares or outcomes significantly, as voter decisions hinge predominantly on the top candidate's attributes and national conditions. Historically, the practice formalized after the Twelfth Amendment in 1804 separated presidential and vice-presidential balloting, resolving flaws in the original Constitution where the election runner-up assumed the vice presidency, as seen in adversarial pairings like Federalist John Adams and Anti-Federalist Thomas Jefferson in 1796. While intended to mitigate risks of presidential incapacity, the vice presidency's influence remains subordinate unless ascension occurs, with notable instances of controversy arising from selections perceived as unqualified, such as impacting campaigns through gaffes or polarizing rhetoric.

Conceptual Foundations

Definition and Etymology

A running mate refers to a political who campaigns alongside and is nominated on the same electoral as the primary contender for a superior , such as the vice presidential nominee paired with a presidential . This joint candidacy enables voters to select both positions in a single vote, strategically combining regional, ideological, or demographic strengths to maximize electoral support while ensuring a designated successor for continuity in executive leadership. The phrase originated in mid-19th-century , drawing from horse-racing terminology where a "running mate" described a secondary horse entered to set the pace or assist the favored competitor in a race. Its first documented political application dates to 1859, aligning with the institutionalization of unified tickets in U.S. presidential elections after the Twelfth Amendment's ratification on June 15, , which replaced separate balloting for president and with linked but distinct electoral processes to prevent ties and factional rivalries. The term thus excludes contexts like independent vice elections prior to 1804 or post-election alliances in parliamentary systems, where no preordained ticket binds candidates before the popular vote.

Historical Origins

In , the Republic's system elected two consuls annually through the to serve jointly as chief executives, embodying a deliberate pairing intended to prevent monarchical tyranny via mutual powers and alternating authority. This structure prioritized institutional balance over unified campaigning, as consuls were selected separately based on individual merit and factional support, yet required collaboration in command of legions and governance to ensure stability amid Rome's expansion from 509 BCE onward. The empirical rationale stemmed from early republican reforms post-kingly rule, where single leadership had fostered abuse, prompting the dual magistracy as a causal mechanism for accountability without descending into paralysis. The concept of paired executives found institutional form in the United States via Article II of the 1787 Constitution, which directed electors to cast two undifferentiated votes for and , with the runner-up assuming the secondary role to harness the nation's top talents in tandem. This design presumed selection of the ablest candidates, but emergent party alignments exposed its flaws: in the 1796 election, Federalist secured 71 electoral votes for while Democratic-Republican received 68 for , yielding an executive branch riven by ideological antagonism that hampered administration. intensified in , when Jefferson and his intended running mate each garnered 73 votes due to electors' undifferentiated ballots, precipitating a 36-ballot House deadlock resolved only on February 17, 1801, after fears of civil unrest. These deadlocks empirically demonstrated the runner-up system's incompatibility with partisan democracy, as adversarial pairings incentivized obstruction over cooperation, eroding governance efficacy. In response, Congress proposed the Twelfth Amendment on December 9, 1803, ratified June 15, 1804, mandating separate ballots for president and vice president to facilitate deliberate, cooperative tickets aligned by party and strategy. This shift causally prioritized electoral predictability and unified executive signaling—evident in subsequent tickets like Jefferson's pairing with George Clinton—over abstract meritocracy, as unified slates minimized post-election gridlock and enhanced perceived competence in nascent party contests.

Selection and Strategy

Criteria for Choosing a Running Mate

Presidential nominees select running mates primarily to enhance electoral prospects by balancing the ticket across geographic, demographic, ideological, and experiential dimensions, aiming to maximize vote shares and hedge against risks. Geographic targets regional appeal, such as pairing candidates from different sections of the to consolidate support in battleground or underrepresented areas. Demographic complementarity addresses gaps in the nominee's base, incorporating factors like , , , or to attract diverse voter coalitions and signal inclusivity. Ideological moderation seeks to broaden appeal to swing voters by selecting a partner who tempers perceived , while competence in —often evidenced by legislative or —signals reliability and deters opponent attacks on depth. This strategic calculus has roots in the rise of national party after , when nominees began prioritizing electability over factional loyalty to forge unified tickets capable of national victory. Empirical patterns from convention deliberations show consistent emphasis on these balancing elements, with data indicating that over 80% of selections since the mid-19th century involved deliberate attempts at regional or ideological complementarity to mitigate intra-party divisions and expand electoral maps. Nominees weigh perceived vote gains from such pairings against minimal evidence of decisive electoral boosts, driven by the of in high-stakes contests where even marginal state wins can determine outcomes. Key trade-offs arise between ideological alignment, which preserves core supporter enthusiasm but limits crossover appeal, and pragmatic diversification, which risks base alienation if the running mate energizes opponents more effectively. Analyses of selection reveal nominees often favor pragmatic picks for their potential to neutralize attacks or deliver specific constituencies, even at the of personal , as rarely overrides calculations of net electoral . This tension underscores a causal focus on observable voter heuristics—such as regional or demographic signaling—over unproven long-term synergies, reflecting the of campaigns under uncertainty.

Vetting Process and Announcement

The vetting of potential running mates entails exhaustive background investigations by teams of attorneys, investigators, and party loyalists, encompassing financial disclosures, tax returns, ethical compliance, medical records, and scrutiny of personal relationships, including those of spouses, children, and associates. These probes, often spanning weeks, seek to identify liabilities such as undisclosed debts, past indiscretions, or conflicts of interest that could invite opposition attacks or erode voter trust. Supplementary assessments include internal polling to gauge the prospective ticket's appeal in battleground states and one-on-one interviews with the to test ideological alignment and interpersonal dynamics. Such diligence escalated following revelations of inadequate pre-selection checks, notably the 1972 case of , whose undisclosed hospitalizations for depression prompted his abrupt exit from George McGovern's ticket. Announcements of running mates have evolved from convention-floor decisions to pre-convention disclosures aimed at unifying party factions and energizing donors. In 1956, deferred the choice to delegates, who selected via roll-call vote during the in . By contrast, contemporary campaigns prioritize earlier reveals for strategic advantage; named on July 15, 2024, coinciding with the Republican National Convention's opening, while introduced on August 6, 2024, 13 days before the Democratic gathering. This shift accommodates compressed election calendars but heightens exposure to immediate vetting shortfalls or external disruptions. Premature leaks or post-announcement disclosures pose acute risks, as demonstrated by Eagleton's 1972 withdrawal—triggered by reporting on his electroshock therapy history just 18 days after nomination—which inflicted lasting damage on McGovern's campaign. Campaigns counter these vulnerabilities through non-disclosure agreements binding participants, selective media briefings to shape coverage, and compartmentalized operations to curb information spread. Yet the inherent opacity of fosters about thoroughness, with limited public insight into how campaigns weigh unearthed issues against electoral calculus, underscoring persistent tensions between and accountability.

Role in United States Politics

Constitutional Evolution

The original outlined in Article II, Section 1 of the directed each elector to vote for two candidates without distinction, with the candidate receiving the highest number of votes becoming and the second-highest becoming . This design presumed non-partisan selection or complementary rivals, but the emergence of organized parties rendered it dysfunctional, as allies on the same ticket received identical votes, pitting them against each other. The 1800 presidential election exemplified these flaws when Democratic-Republican candidates and each garnered 73 electoral votes, creating a tie that the resolved only after 36 ballots on February 17, 1801, with Burr conceding. This deadlock, which delayed governance and risked instability, prompted to propose the Twelfth Amendment in December 1803, ratified by the states on September 25, 1804. The amendment requires electors to cast separate ballots for president and , institutionalizing joint tickets where the vice presidential nominee serves explicitly as a running mate rather than a potential rival. Subsequent constitutional development addressed vice presidential elevation amid modern risks of presidential incapacity. The Twenty-fifth Amendment, proposed in 1965 and ratified on February 10, 1967, codifies that a ascending to the presidency triggers a congressional confirmation process for a replacement nominee, while Sections 3 and 4 establish protocols for temporary due to presidential disability—self-declared or determined by the and majority. This responded to precedents like the 1963 , which left no mechanism for filling a vice presidential vacancy, and Cold War-era concerns over nuclear command continuity, thereby enhancing the running mate's role in systemic stability without altering election mechanics. Parallel institutional shifts in nominating conventions reinforced ticket cohesion. Early conventions, starting in the , often involved brokered multi-ballot deals among elites, fostering intra-party fractures as seen in the 1924 Democratic convention requiring 103 ballots. Reforms expanding primaries—particularly Democratic changes post-1968 Chicago convention chaos and adoption in the 1970s—shifted power to primary voters, enabling presidential nominees to dominate running mate selection by 1980, empirically curtailing deadlocks and aligning vice presidential choices more closely with unified tickets.

Electoral and Governing Impact

In U.S. presidential campaigns, the running mate functions primarily as a to deliver pointed criticisms of opponents—often termed the "attack dog" role—allowing the presidential candidate to maintain a more elevated tone, while also energizing in key states through geographic, ideological, or demographic complementarity. Once in office, the discharges constitutional responsibilities as , including casting tie-breaking votes on , alongside advisory roles to the and preparation as potential successor, with nine vice presidents ascending to the via following a president's death or resignation— in 1841, in 1850, in 1865, in 1881, in 1901, in 1923, in 1945, in 1963, and in 1974. These duties aim to ensure executive continuity and balance, yet the office's influence frequently falls short of such promises, manifesting as largely ceremonial with presidents often marginalizing vice presidents based on interpersonal dynamics or policy alignment. For example, under , from 1941 to 1945 wielded scant policy authority due to ideological divergences and FDR's centralization of power, prompting Democratic leaders to replace him with at the 1944 convention despite Wallace's incumbency. In exceptional cases, however, vice presidential authority expands amid crises; , serving from 2001 to 2009, leveraged post-September 11, 2001, imperatives to shape administration priorities, including policy, marking a deviation from the office's historical subordination. Overall, the vice presidency's evolution from a legislative-centric role to greater involvement since the mid-20th century has facilitated smoother power transitions but underscores persistent limitations tied to presidential discretion rather than inherent structural empowerment.

Notable Examples

In the 1960 presidential election, John F. Kennedy's selection of as running mate provided regional balance to counter anti-Catholic sentiment in the , contributing to a narrow victory by aiding performance in key states like , which Kennedy won by fewer than 50,000 votes out of over 2 million cast. Johnson's experience and Texas roots delivered that state's electoral votes, essential in Kennedy's 303-219 win despite losing the popular vote by 0.17 percentage points. Ronald Reagan's choice of in 1980 addressed concerns over Reagan's age—69 at inauguration—by pairing him with the younger, moderate Bush, who appealed to establishment Republicans and independents amid party unification post-primaries. This selection facilitated Reagan's landslide 489-49 triumph, with Bush's foreign policy credentials mitigating perceptions of Reagan as inexperienced on global affairs. The 1972 McGovern-Eagleton episode exemplified selection failure when George McGovern's vice-presidential pick, , resigned 18 days after nomination upon disclosure of past electroshock therapy for , eroding campaign credibility and contributing to McGovern's 520-17 Electoral College defeat. McGovern's initial claim of full party support masked internal doubts, amplifying media scrutiny and alienating donors, with polls showing a post-scandal drop in support from 41% to 30%. John McCain's 2008 nomination of energized the Republican base, increasing enthusiasm among conservatives, but her subsequent gaffes and limited national experience alienated moderates and independents, as evidenced by exit polls where won independents 52-45% and moderates by wider margins. Analyses indicate Palin's net effect was negligible or negative on swing voters, correlating with McCain's loss in states like despite base turnout gains. In 2024, selected to bolster Midwestern appeal targeting union voters and rural demographics, yet the ticket lost all seven swing states, including , , and , with minimal gains in union household support insufficient to offset broader working-class shifts toward Republicans. Exit data showed underperforming Joe Biden's margins in these states by 1-4 points, underscoring limited running-mate influence amid economic voter priorities. Donald Trump's selection of reinforced a populist, working-class focus, aligning with ideological continuity rather than broadening appeal, which coincided with Trump's sweep of swing states and expanded margins among non-college-educated voters compared to 2020. background and criticism of elites supported turnout in and , contributing to Trump's 312-226 victory, though debates persist on direct causation versus Trump's personal draw.

Global Perspectives

Analogues in Other Presidential Systems

In , the is elected on the same as the through a direct popular vote, a practice formalized under the 1946 promulgated on September 18, 1946. The election occurs simultaneously for both offices on the first Sunday of in the first round, with a potential runoff if no pair achieves an absolute majority of valid votes. This joint-ticket mechanism promotes executive stability in 's federal system by enabling presidential candidates to pair with running mates who complement regional representation or ideological alignment, reducing risks of post-election fragmentation in a multi-regional . Similar analogues exist in other presidential republics, such as , where the has been elected jointly with the president since the 1991 Constitution, emphasizing competence and continuity amid diverse ethnic and geographic interests. In these systems, the absence of an analogue leads to nationwide or requirements, often with runoffs, fostering direct voter but heightening the stakes for cohesion. The 's role typically includes assuming interim duties upon presidential incapacity, with stronger operational involvement in some cases compared to ceremonial functions elsewhere. Variations in electoral mechanics distinguish these from the U.S. model, as direct popular mandates without intermediary electors amplify the running mate's vetting for broad appeal. For instance, vice presidential selections have historically prioritized geographic balance, with candidates from underrepresented regions to mitigate federal tensions, a strategy empirically linked to smoother power transitions in Latin American presidencies. Controversies, such as allegations of electoral irregularities in Brazil's 2018 presidential runoff involving incumbent Michel Temer's administration, underscore vulnerabilities in joint-ticket integrity, though investigations focused primarily on broader issues rather than vice presidential pairing.

Differences in Parliamentary and Semi-Presidential Systems

In parliamentary systems, the is drawn directly from the , obviating the need for a running mate as the is selected post-election based on the ability to command parliamentary confidence rather than through a pre-formed electoral . This structure fuses powers, with the typically emerging as the leader of the majority party or a negotiated after voting, allowing deputies and roles to be allocated through intra- or inter-party without joint campaigning. Such dynamics prioritize legislative majorities over personalized executive pairings, enabling governments to reflect evolving alliances but decoupling executive selection from direct popular mandates for deputies. In the , the formally appoints the —conventionally the individual who can secure the ' support—following general elections or party leadership changes, with any role assigned afterward from within the governing ranks, unlinked to prior electoral slates. Semi-presidential systems hybridize direct presidential election with parliamentary accountability for the , yet retain no running mate equivalent since the prime minister's appointment follows the president's independent poll victory and hinges on legislative endorsement rather than tandem voting. In , the designates the , who must navigate confidence or face censure, permitting during divided control but rooted in sequential rather than paired selection processes. Russia mirrors this, as the nominates a for approval, fostering executive alignment or friction through post-election mechanics absent fixed deputy pairings. By design, these regimes favor iterative between branches to forge viable executives, causally averting the immobilism of presidential-legislative terms while exposing governments to removal via no-confidence motions, which empirically yield higher turnover rates—parliamentary cabinets averaging under two years in duration versus four-to-five-year presidential fixed terms—and greater adaptability amid shifting majorities, albeit with attendant risks of serial instability.

Empirical Analysis and Criticisms

Evidence on Electoral Influence

Empirical analyses of vice presidential running mates' electoral effects, drawing on polling data, exit surveys, and regression models from onward, consistently indicate minimal influence on national vote shares. In their comprehensive examination of voter decision-making across multiple elections, political scientists Christopher J. Devine and Kyle C. Kopko found that vice presidential candidates exert negligible sway over individual vote choice, with presidential nominees dominating considerations by a wide margin; experimental surveys and aggregate data showed no statistically significant shifts attributable to VP traits beyond 0.5-1% in rare cases, often confounded by broader dynamics. This aligns with multivariate regressions controlling for economic indicators, incumbency, and nominee popularity, which reveal correlations between strong VP picks and electoral success but no causal direction from the running mate to outcomes in contests from the 1960s to 2020. Home-state advantages for vice presidential nominees, once hypothesized as a deliverable boost, prove insubstantial in modern eras. Devine and Kopko's analysis of state-level returns post-1880 demonstrates that VP candidates yield at most a 1-2% vote premium in their home state compared to non-home states, insufficient to swing close elections and diminishing further when isolating individual-level data from surveys; earlier 19th-century patterns, tied to weaker parties, do not persist under contemporary and . Anecdotal claims of demographic turnout surges, such as the 2000 selection of Joseph Lieberman to mobilize Jewish voters, lack substantiation in vote data. Post-election breakdowns showed receiving only marginally higher Jewish support (around 80%) than in 1996, with no measurable uptick in turnout or shifts in key states like attributable to Lieberman's orthodoxy; hype in media and campaign rhetoric amplified perceptions without causal evidence from precinct-level or survey regressions. While isolated exceptions—like perceived enthusiasm boosts in low-salience subgroups—appear in qualitative accounts, quantitative syntheses across decades favor a of direct electoral impact, attributing overestimations to where nominees already leading in polls choose appealing VPs.

Debates on Relevance and Reforms

Critics of the vice presidency argue that it remains largely ceremonial and marginal in -making, often functioning as "standby equipment" activated only in cases of presidential incapacity or , with limited substantive influence despite post-1970s expansions in and duties. Studies indicate that vice presidents' input varies by personal relationship with the president but is frequently constrained, as evidenced by historical patterns where VPs like exerted minimal impact beyond ceremonial roles. This structural irrelevance heightens risks in running mate selection, such as post-election ideological mismatches that undermine , a concern amplified in polarized environments where tickets prioritize electoral balancing over merit. Empirical data from the 2024 election further challenges claims that demographic identity in VP selection boosts turnout or viability, as Democratic voter participation declined relative to 2020 despite Kamala Harris's profile as the first female and South Asian VP, with marginal voters favoring the opposing ticket and no net gain from identity-based appeals. Proponents counter that ensures reliable , averting chaos in eight historical presidential vacancies, and compels intra-party by necessitating balanced tickets in ideologically divided eras, fostering broader coalition-building. Reform proposals span abolition to enhancement. Advocates for elimination, including conservative efficiency arguments, suggest merging VP duties into the or of the to streamline governance and avoid redundant elections, as the office's tie-breaking Senate role and standby function add minimal value amid modern partisanship. Alternatives seek empowerment through formalized assignments and expanded staff, building on 1970s precedents under that granted VPs weekly private meetings and policy portfolios, though implementation remains president-dependent. The 25th Amendment's 1967 ratification enabled VP appointments to fill vacancies, indirectly bolstering the role's continuity, yet debates persist on further codifying influence to mitigate irrelevance without constitutional overhaul. Global analogues, such as Brazil's VP serving primarily as a successor with temporary powers akin to the U.S. model, offer limited lessons for strengthening , as both systems prioritize replacement over routine authority.

References

  1. [1]
    Running Mate: Understanding Its Legal Definition and Role
    A running mate is a political colleague chosen by a presidential candidate to accompany them on the ballot during a U.S. Presidential election. This selection ...
  2. [2]
    The three reasons a vice presidential candidate is selected
    May 6, 2020 · In 2008, freshman Senator Barack Obama defied the odds to win the Democratic nomination for president against former first lady and two-term ...<|separator|>
  3. [3]
    The Politics Shed - How important is the pick for Vice President
    Did Joe Biden help Barack Obama win? Do running mates actually matter? The choice of a running mate reflects on presidential candidates. For Democrats, this ...
  4. [4]
    Do Running Mates Matter? - University Press of Kansas
    Aug 10, 2020 · Authors Christopher J. Devine and Kyle C. Kopko have focused their careers on studying the Vice Presidency, and have published the first ...
  5. [5]
    Do Running Mates Matter?: The Influence of Vice Presidential ... - jstor
    Rumor had it that Ohio's senior US senator, Sherrod Brown, was a leading contender for the Democratic vice presidential nomination. On paper, he was the perfect ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  6. [6]
    Interpretation: The Twelfth Amendment | Constitution Center
    The second was that the electors did not differentiate between the two persons as potential presidents or vice presidents. Electors should simply vote for the ...
  7. [7]
    The Senate Elects a Vice President
    The presidential election of 1800 revealed a need to amend the U.S. Constitution. The original system for electing presidents provided that the candidate ...
  8. [8]
    How Presidential Running Mates Can Make or Break a Campaign
    Sep 18, 2024 · Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin on the big screen at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, September 3, 2008. Photo ...
  9. [9]
    Author Christopher J. Devine on the Impact of Running Mates
    Aug 23, 2024 · By Rylie Oswald Christopher J. Devine, coauthor of Do Running Mates Matter? with Kyle C. Kopko, speaks about the impact vice presidential ...
  10. [10]
    Running mate Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
    RUNNING MATE meaning: the person who runs with someone in an election (such as an election to choose a new president) and who is given the less important ...
  11. [11]
    running mate, n. meanings, etymology and more
    running mate, n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary.
  12. [12]
    The Constitution: Amendments 11-27 | National Archives
    Passed by Congress December 9, 1803. Ratified June 15, 1804. Note: A portion of Article II, section 1 of the Constitution was superseded by the 12th amendment.
  13. [13]
    https://www.thoroughbredracing.com/articles/5545/final-furlong-leadership-race-how-horse-racing-has-influenced-political-language
  14. [14]
    Two-headed Rome - about Roman consuls and their election
    Sep 17, 2023 · First of all, the votes were not equal – citizens cast their votes in groups called centuria, and in the end each centuria had one vote. The ...Missing: balance | Show results with:balance
  15. [15]
    Roman Republic Political Structure & System - Study.com
    There were two consuls elected for each year whose term lasted only for the duration of that year. In theory, former consuls could only be reelected after at ...Missing: process | Show results with:process
  16. [16]
    Consul | Magistrates, Duties & Powers | Britannica
    Sep 29, 2025 · Consuls were the two highest magistrates in ancient Rome, heads of state, commanding the army, and representing the state in foreign affairs.Missing: balance | Show results with:balance
  17. [17]
    How were Roman consuls elected? Did they campaign for votes or ...
    Aug 17, 2024 · Under the republic they were elected by male Roman citizens. Two were elected each year, the top two being successful. The one who got the ...How did having two consuls governing the Roman Republic affect ...Did the Romans have an idea about checks and balances? - QuoraMore results from www.quora.com
  18. [18]
    John Adams: Campaigns and Elections | Miller Center
    The Campaign and Election of 1796: Throughout Washington's presidency, Vice President Adams regarded himself as the heir apparent.
  19. [19]
    1800 Electoral College Results | National Archives
    Jun 26, 2024 · President Thomas Jefferson [Democratic-Republican] Opponents Aaron Burr (73); John Adams (65); Charles C. Pinckney (64); ...
  20. [20]
    U.S. House Votes 37 Times to Break Tie - Annenberg Classroom
    In the presidential election of 1800, Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, both Democratic-Republicans, win 73 votes in the Electoral College, forcing the House ...<|separator|>
  21. [21]
    Amending the Electoral College: The 12th Amendment
    Oct 27, 2020 · It is the formal body that elects the President and Vice President of the United States. Back in 1787, when the delegates to the Constitutional ...Missing: deliberate pairing
  22. [22]
    Amendment 12 – “Electing the President and Vice President”
    Amendment Twelve to the Constitution was ratified on June 15, 1804. It revises and outlines the procedure of how Presidents and Vice Presidents are elected.
  23. [23]
    The Constitution and the federal election process
    Oct 16, 2024 · Under the original Constitution, electors cast votes for both president and vice president with no distinction, leading to a tie in the 1800 ...
  24. [24]
    [PDF] Picking the Vice President - Brookings Institution
    All of that changed dramatically when candidate Bill Clinton selected Senator Al Gore as his running mate and the model changed from “balance” to “partnership.Missing: precursors concept<|control11|><|separator|>
  25. [25]
    The influence of candidate traits on vice presidential nominee ...
    1. In March 2020, before winning the Democratic Party's nomination for President, Joe Biden committed to choosing a woman as his vice presidential nominee ...
  26. [26]
    [PDF] Selecting a Vice President: - Bipartisan Policy Center
    their core vetting process at least eight weeks before the convention. Getting to Know the Vice Presidential Candidate. RECOMMENDATION: Presidential candidates ...
  27. [27]
    [PDF] Selection of Vice Presidential Candidates (2) - Gerald R. Ford Museum
    and Vice President. As political parties gained strength (especially after. 1831, when nomination by party conventions replaced selection by Congressional.Missing: scholarly sources
  28. [28]
    (PDF) Vice presidential candidates in the American ... - ResearchGate
    Aug 6, 2025 · ticket” is one of strategies that are most employed by the presidential candidates. One of the best known VP nominee selection happened in 1984.
  29. [29]
    Picking the vice president - Brookings Institution
    Jul 7, 2020 · Elaine Kamarck writes that presidential candidates have gone from a strategy of balancing the ticket with their vice presidential pick to ...
  30. [30]
    Institutional Change and the Dynamics of Vice Presidential Selection
    The influence of the vice presidency has expanded dramatically in recent years, yet scholars know surprisingly little about how presidential nominees choose ...
  31. [31]
    [PDF] MASTER THESIS: THE VEEPSTAKES
    ... selection criteria no longer govern the selections. Now, the presidential nominees' primary concern is to select a running mate with political experience.<|control11|><|separator|>
  32. [32]
    As Kamala Harris' VP choice looms, inside the vetting process
    Aug 1, 2024 · Vice presidential contenders undergo a vetting process that seeks to unearth their darkest secrets − and even those of their family, friends and business ...
  33. [33]
    What the process looks like when it comes to vetting a presidential ...
    Aug 5, 2024 · Vice President Kamala Harris will be selecting her running mate soon. NPR's Michel Martin spoke with James Hamilton, who helped vet VP ...
  34. [34]
    Vance vs. Walz and the complicated business of vetting vice ...
    Aug 21, 2024 · Now that both presidential candidates have chosen their running mates it is hard to pick up a paper or turn on cable TV without someone ...
  35. [35]
    The Eagleton affair: When a VP selection went terribly wrong
    Jul 26, 2012 · Thomas Eagleton, George McGovern's ill-fated selection in 1972. The Eagleton affair, in fact, ultimately changed how vice-presidential running mates are now ...
  36. [36]
    1956 Democratic Convention - CQ Almanac Online Edition
    The Aug. 13–17 Democratic National Convention nominated Adlai E. Stevenson and Sen. Estes Kefauver (Tenn.) to be the party's 1956 Presidential and Vice ...
  37. [37]
    On Day 1 of the RNC, Trump announced he picked Sen. J.D. Vance ...
    Jul 16, 2024 · NPR's Steve Inskeep talks to Caroline Sunshine, deputy communications director for the Trump campaign, about the convention and if the assassination attempt
  38. [38]
    Days Before or After the First Day of Convention Vice-Presidential ...
    Year, date announced, VP nominee, convention dates, # days. 2024, August 6, Tim Walz, August 19-22, 13. 2020, August 11, Kamala Harris, August 17-20**, 6.
  39. [39]
    The Thomas Eagleton Affair Haunts Candidates Today - NPR
    Aug 4, 2012 · In 1972, Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern chose the young senator as his running mate. Just 18 days later, Eagleton was ...
  40. [40]
    Sex, money, social media - how VP contenders are vetted - BBC
    Jul 31, 2024 · Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have both been through the intensive vice-presidential vetting process themselves.
  41. [41]
    U.S. Constitution - Article II | Resources | Library of Congress
    In every Case, after the Choice of the President, the Person having the greatest Number of Votes of the Electors shall be the Vice President. But if there ...
  42. [42]
    Article II | U.S. Constitution | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
    In every case, after the choice of the President, the person having the greatest number of votes of the electors shall be the Vice President. But if there ...
  43. [43]
    The 25th Amendment: Succession of the Presidency
    Feb 10, 2017 · The amendment established procedures for the succession of the Presidency in the event of a vacancy in the office of President or Vice President.
  44. [44]
    Abrupt Transition | National Archives
    Nov 29, 2022 · Ratified in 1967, the Twenty-fifth Amendment simultaneously empowered a President to nominate a Vice President when that office became ...
  45. [45]
    U.S. Government & Politics: Elections, Branches of ... - History.com
    What Is a Brokered Convention? The history of U.S. presidential elections is filled with political conventions that were anything but predictable. Dwight D ...Missing: reducing | Show results with:reducing
  46. [46]
    About the Vice President | Historical Overview - Senate.gov
    The degree to which vice presidents were engaged in Senate activity varied throughout the 19th century. John Adams played an active role, lobbying senators to ...
  47. [47]
    What do U.S. vice presidents do? - ShareAmerica
    Sep 27, 2024 · The Constitution gives the vice president the tie-breaking power in the U.S. Senate and a role as the chief presiding officer there, so the ...
  48. [48]
    The Missouri Compromise - Truman Library Institute
    The incumbent, Henry Wallace, was seen by party leaders as too liberal and eccentric to be a viable candidate. They succeeded in convincing Roosevelt to be open ...
  49. [49]
    When the second becomes number one: vice-presidential power in ...
    Richard Cheney was the most powerful Vice President in American history. His influence was primarily concentrated in the arena of national security policy.
  50. [50]
    John F. Kennedy: Campaigns and Elections | Miller Center
    The election of 1960 brought to the forefront a generation of politicians born in the twentieth century, pitting the 47-year-old Republican vice president ...
  51. [51]
    Kennedy Wins 1960 Presidential Election in Closest ... - CQ Press
    Democratic Presidential nominee John F. Kennedy Nov. 8 defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon, the Republican nominee, in the closest Presidential election ...
  52. [52]
    How Reagan Helped to Build the House of Bush - Hoover Institution
    Jan 30, 2001 · And George H. W. Bush wouldn't have been elected president in 1988 if Ronald Reagan hadn't invited him to be Reagan's running mate in 1980.
  53. [53]
    Ronald Reagan: Campaigns and Elections - Miller Center
    Meanwhile, within the Republican Party, resurgent conservatives mobilized against what they saw as the "me-too" policies of the GOP's long dominant Eastern ...
  54. [54]
    THE CAMPAIGN: McGovern's First Crisis: The Eagleton Affair | TIME
    Aug 7, 1972 · I assume that everyone here is impressed with my control of this convention in that my choice for Vice President was challenged by only 39 ...
  55. [55]
    Why the Sarah Palin Gamble Didn't Pay Off | Origins
    Nov 12, 2008 · John McCain probably lost whatever chance he had to become president on August 28, the day he invited Sarah Palin to be his running mate.
  56. [56]
    https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1065912913508011
  57. [57]
    While Other Voters Moved Away From the Democrats, Union ...
    Dec 2, 2024 · Although many demographic groups shifted their votes to favor Donald Trump in 2024 compared to 2020, Kamala Harris increased Democratic support among union ...
  58. [58]
    US election: Trump wins first three battleground states - DW
    Nov 5, 2024 · The world is watching the 2024 US presidential election. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are in a tight race, with swing states Pennsylvania, ...
  59. [59]
    In J.D. Vance, Trump is going all in on populism — and elevating an ...
    Jul 16, 2024 · J.D. Vance greets supporters in a crowd of people near an Ohio sign at the RNC. Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance greets ...
  60. [60]
    Trump chose Vance to reinforce his message - Brookings Institution
    Jul 16, 2024 · In choosing Senator JD Vance from Ohio to be his running mate, Donald Trump chose someone who would reinforce his hard-right agenda.Missing: populist | Show results with:populist
  61. [61]
    The Best of Two Worlds: Selection Strategies for Vice-Presidential ...
    Voting for a presidential ticket is a common characteristic that is particular to the majority of presidential systems. When a voter chooses a candidate for ...
  62. [62]
    [PDF] Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil
    the election of the president and vice-president of the republic shall take place simultaneously, on the first Sunday of October, in the first round, and on the.
  63. [63]
    9.2 What Is the Difference between Parliamentary and Presidential ...
    May 18, 2022 · Parliamentary systems, on the other hand, have no separation of powers between the legislative and the executive. In fact, the process of ...
  64. [64]
    How is a Prime Minister appointed? - Commons Library
    Jul 4, 2024 · The Monarch appoints a Prime Minister under the royal prerogative, although the process is a very private event.Missing: mate | Show results with:mate
  65. [65]
    The institutions | Élysée
    The President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister, who proposes the members of government to the President, who then appoints them (Article 8 of the ...Missing: semi- | Show results with:semi-
  66. [66]
    [PDF] Semi-Presidentialism and Democracy in France and Russia
    Jul 14, 2008 · The modern French and Russian states are both semi-presidential states, meaning that in each country executive power is shared between an ...Missing: mate | Show results with:mate
  67. [67]
    [PDF] Are Parliamentary Systems Better? - Boston University
    The evidence presented here suggests that, to the extent that the nature of the executive makes a difference, parliamentary systems offer significant advantages ...
  68. [68]
    Do Running Mates Matter? - University Press of Kansas
    The American vice presidency, as the saying goes, “is not worth a bucket of warm spit.” Yet vice presidential candidates, many people believe, ca...
  69. [69]
    "The VP Advantage: How Running Mates Influence Home State ...
    A widespread perception exists among political commentators, campaign operatives and presidential candidates that vice presidential running mates can ...Missing: 2020 | Show results with:2020
  70. [70]
    [PDF] Presidential Versus Vice Presidential Home State Advantage
    The perception of a home state advantage in presidential elections has been evident throughout American political history. Most presidential nominees have come ...Missing: criteria | Show results with:criteria
  71. [71]
    An empirical analysis of the vice presidential home state advantage ...
    Presidential candidates, on the other hand, do seem to enjoy a home state advantage in terms of vote choice, although these results are only statistically ...
  72. [72]
    Lieberman didnt draw many extra Jewish votes
    Despite a Jewish vice presidential candidate, Democrat Al Gore garnered only a bit more support among Jews than President Bill ...
  73. [73]
    [PDF] Jewish Votes Still Matter
    Jewish voters, according to the exit polls, voted for Gore at a higher rate than any other white ethnic or religious group. Gore also won a higher percentage of ...
  74. [74]
    Why VPs Matter Less Than You Think - POLITICO Magazine
    Apr 11, 2016 · They are the authors of The VP Advantage: How Running Mates Influence Home State Voting in Presidential Elections (Manchester University ...
  75. [75]
    Cohen: Kamala Harris's foray into foreign policy is all about her future
    Mar 8, 2021 · The old model of the vice-president as “standby equipment” went with the colourless Dan Quayle under George H.W. Bush. Mike Pence did try to ...<|separator|>
  76. [76]
    J.D. Vance Will Be Mostly Irrelevant to Trump's Foreign Policy
    Jul 19, 2024 · Before those tragic transitions, many vice presidents were miserable: powerless, isolated, and largely ignored. They had little influence on ...
  77. [77]
    The U.S. Vice President and Foreign Policy
    Modern vice presidents can trace much of their political influence to the broad reforms that Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale made to the second-highest elected ...
  78. [78]
    The president and the vice president: Different types of partnerships ...
    Jan 17, 2024 · As the vice presidency evolves over time, the way we assess vice presidents' activities and influence also needs to change.
  79. [79]
    End the Vice Presidency - The Atlantic
    Aug 15, 2009 · Thus we got the Twelfth Amendment, turning the VP into a powerless second banana, usually put on the ticket to provide regional “balance.” But ...<|separator|>
  80. [80]
    Turnout didn't cost Kamala Harris the election - Silver Bulletin
    May 28, 2025 · In fact, marginal voters preferred Trump. So Democrats need to find a new playbook.
  81. [81]
    Why Democratic Turnout Cratered — And Why It Won't Be Easy to Fix
    Nov 13, 2024 · Michael Podhorzer, an expert in data-driven politics, explains why so many Biden voters failed to turn out for Harris in the 2024 election.
  82. [82]
    If Everyone Had Voted, Kamala Harris Still Would Have Lost
    Jun 26, 2025 · New data, based on authoritative voter records, suggests that Donald Trump would have done even better in 2024 with higher turnout.
  83. [83]
    The Symmetrical Vice Presidential Picks: Polarized Politics Continues
    Aug 8, 2024 · There is an uncanny symmetry in the two presidential candidates' choice of vice presidential running mates. There are a few superficial ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  84. [84]
    Some Modest Proposals on the Vice-Presidency
    (It would help to have a constitutional amendment eliminating the vice-president's role as president of the Senate and clearly obviating any constitutional ...
  85. [85]
    No one used to care about the vice presidency. Here's how ... - PBS
    Sep 13, 2024 · The first was serving as presiding officer of the Senate, where the VP has the power to cast tie-breaking votes. The second was to assume the ...
  86. [86]
    What is the Constitutional Role of the Vice President?
    Aug 5, 2024 · The vice president has several unique constitutional roles in the federal government, in addition to their primary role of serving as president temporarily.
  87. [87]
    Should Brazil Just Abolish the Vice Presidency? - Americas Quarterly
    Feb 7, 2019 · Why not just let the vice president handle his duties for a few extra days, as the Constitution allows, and focus on a proper recovery? But the ...
  88. [88]
    Vice President of Brazil - Wikipedia
    ... 1946 Constitution, promulgated on September 18 of that year. The indirect election and inauguration of the new vice president took place the following day.Requirements · Election and tenure · List of vice presidentsMissing: process | Show results with:process