Biden’s campaign has yet to formally announce who is on his short list of choices for a running mate, but Biden said in March that he would choose a woman for the position. Cortez Masto, the first Latina U.S. senator, was reportedly in Biden’s “top three” choices for the job, according to March reporting by Mediaite. Thursday’s statement by Senator Cortez Masto indicates that she had been considered for the role of Biden’s potential vice president.
“It is an honor to be considered as a potential running mate but I have decided to withdraw my name from consideration,” Cortez Masto said in a statement sent to Newsweek on Thursday. “Nevada’s economy is one of the hardest hit by the current crisis and I will continue to focus on getting the Nevadans the support they need to get on back on their feet.”
Biden released a statement Thursday praising Cortez Masto as someone he has admired “as long as I have known her because she’s a leader with integrity. Nevadans are fortunate to have her fighting for them in Washington and I look forward to seeing her continue to lead in the Senate.”
Cortez Masto became Nevada’s senior Democratic senator in 2017, filling the seat of retiring Democratic minority leader Harry Reid. Reid had encouraged Biden to consider Cortez Masto for the vice presidential position, telling CNN she would be an “excellent choice.”
Observers believed that a Latina vice president could be helpful in gaining minority votes for Biden during the election. New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham was also speculated to be on Biden’s short list. However, during a Saturday press conference, Lujan Grisham indicated she was not interested in the position.
“I do want minority voters to know what the benefits of a Biden presidency can be,” Lujan Grisham said. “And that will be my job during the upcoming primary and the general election.”
Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams said she would be interested in being Biden’s vice president, were the position offered to her.
“I understand there is a process that will be at work,” Abrams told CNN in April, “and that he has no shortage of qualified candidates to choose from.”
Biden is also believed to be considering California Senator Kamala Harris and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Minnesota Representative Amy Klobuchar for the position. All three women endorsed Biden’s campaign after suspending their presidential campaigns against him during the Democratic primaries.
Updated 9:41 p.m. EST 5/28/2020: This story has been updated to include a statement from Joe Biden.
