If Trump wins the Republican nomination, who will be his running mate?

Although US vice presidential hopefuls are not usually chosen before they receive their party’s nomination, Donald Trump’s assured victory in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary still cast doubt on the viability of Nikki Haley, the only contender in the Republican primary. race, and the former president’s candidacy makes it more likely.

As happens every four years, potential candidates must go through a thorough background check process. But the final decision, which could make or break the chosen one’s political career, rests solely in the hands of whoever wins the nomination, which according to polls and recent primary results could rest in Trump’s hands.

If Trump ultimately secures the GOP presidential nomination, these are the potential running mates:

Despite being heavily attacked by Trump with epithets and mockery of his physical appearance, the Florida governor never responded with the same force. This leaves the door open for him to aspire to the vice presidential nomination, given that he has a good reputation with the Republican base and a strong run for re-election in 2022.

However, his poor showing in the presidential primary campaign and the fact that, if selected, both running mates would come from the same state, could ‘conspire’ against DeSantis’ ambitions.

New York’s Republican congressman hasn’t always been a Trump supporter. In 2016 he rated the famous video Access Hollywood Calling Trump “inappropriate and offensive”, he later said Trump’s order banning Muslims from entering the United States was “hasty and sweeping” and called the border wall “unrealistic”.

Like Stefanik, Ohio Republican Senator JD Vance is a convert from the anti-Trump movement to the MAGA movement, which paid dividends when he was elected in 2022 with the former president’s endorsement. At a Vance campaign event in Ohio in 2022, Trump expressed the practical side of the relationship when he told the audience, “JD kisses my butt because he needs my support so much.”

As rumors continue about Vance’s presence on Trump’s list of potential running mates, Vance has said he is happy with his position in the Senate. However, he recently told Columbus news station WBNS: “I love my job and I want to stay in it, but we’ll see what happens.”

After a fruitless run in the Republican primary process, the South Carolina senator announced his public support for Trump’s candidacy, although Haley, his former mentor and who appointed him as senator in 2013 when he began his political career, remains in the race.

“You must really hate her,” Trump told Scott in reference to Haley during his victory speech in New Hampshire. “I just love you,” Scott replied to laughter from the audience. Unlike the other candidates, Scott has been an outspoken supporter of Trump and will add diversity to his nomination ticket as a vice presidential candidate.

Known as a Republican, then an Independent, then a Democrat, then a MAGA Republican, Kari Lake, a former news anchor and Illinois native, chose the swing state of Arizona as a base to launch her political career, where she was defeated. Election for Governor in 2022.

Fiercely loyal to Trump, extremist in his statements and committed to the MAGA movement, Lake meets many of the characteristics needed to please Trump. But her election defeat and her lack of government experience set her apart from most other candidates who held or were elected to government positions.

The technology entrepreneur hasn’t bothered to hide his desire to be considered for the vice presidential run. During his brief stay in the Republican primary race, Ramaswamy not only attacked Trump but also constantly praised him.

But Ramaswamy’s failure to galvanize public enthusiasm could negatively impact his vice-presidential chances. In the Iowa caucuses, after holding 323 campaign events, Ramaswamy came in fourth with just 8,449 votes, 12,000 behind Haley, who finished third.