Joe Biden “Had to Choose” Harris for VP but Wanted Whitmer

A new report is pulling back the curtain on the high-stakes decision that shaped the 2020 election ticket — and it’s stirring fresh debate about what really happened behind closed doors.

According to a revealing profile by The Atlantic, former President Joe Biden allegedly had his eye on Gretchen Whitmer as his running mate — but ultimately felt boxed into selecting Kamala Harris amid intense political pressure during a turbulent summer.

The report claims Biden “wanted it to be Whitmer,” especially as the Michigan governor gained national attention for her clashes with then-President Donald Trump and her rising profile within the Democratic Party. Behind the scenes, Whitmer was reportedly being seriously vetted and even traveled for an in-person meeting with Biden, signaling just how close she may have come to landing the role.

But timing — and the national mood — appears to have changed everything.

As protests erupted across the country following the killing of George Floyd, the political calculus shifted. One former senior staffer cited in the report bluntly stated, “The moment called for a Black running mate,” a sentiment that reportedly carried weight among Biden’s inner circle. Another former adviser to both Biden and Harris acknowledged that the claim wasn’t without merit.

Despite the apparent pivot, Whitmer didn’t publicly flinch. The report notes she “campaigned happily” for the ticket and remained a loyal supporter through Biden’s presidency, even after confirming she would have accepted the vice presidential role if it had been offered.

“If Joe Biden had called and said, ‘I need you to be my partner,’ I would have said yes,” Whitmer previously said, underscoring just how close she came to the national stage.

Now, with Whitmer frequently mentioned as a potential 2028 contender and Harris still a major figure in Democratic politics, the resurfaced details are adding fuel to an already intense conversation about the party’s future — and the decisions that shaped its present.