Pritzker Under Consideration For Vice Presidential Pick: Reports

ILLINOIS — As Kamala Harris' presidential campaign gets under way, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker spoke with her campaign staff Wednesday after they called him to gauge his interest in running for vice president, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

A day earlier, Pritzker appeared on MSBNC's "Morning Joe" and said he had not received vice presidential vetting materials from the Harris campaign, but on Wednesday, he told CNN's Jake Tapper he cannot comment on "private discussions."

Earlier this week, Pritzker praised President Joe Biden, who announced Sunday he was dropping out of the race. Pritzker also endorsed Harris, saying, "She represents our party's best chance to defeat Donald Trump in November, and I will work my heart out to help her do that."

On "Morning Joe," Pritzker was enthusiastic about Harris, telling the hosts, "Kamala Harris is energizing people all across the nation — young people, people of color and frankly, all of us, who are excited about the idea that we can take this fight to Donald Trump and his 'Mini Me,' J.D. Vance ... Now we've got an energized party behind Kamala Harris, and I'm excited, because we're gonna win in November."

Pritzker, in his second term as governor, is reportedly on a list of Democrats being considered as the current vice president enters the presidential race.

Most of the VP discussion has centered on four rumored contenders — Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. But a source told the Associated Press that Harris' campaign has requested information from a dozen Democrats, including Pritzker, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Whitmer, for her part, has also downplayed speculation she could be in the running for the vice presidential pick, saying, "I am not leaving Michigan. I'm proud to be the governor of Michigan."

Pritzker has made similar comments, telling "Morning Joe," "I love being the governor of the state of Illinois."

However, USA Today named him among six possible front-runners for the role, alongside Shapiro, Kelly, Buttigieg, Beshear and Cooper. Saying he has a more progressive reputation than some on the list, USA Today wrote, "Choosing (Pritzker) as a running mate might help Harris shore-up support among the Democratic Party’s left flank."

Newsweek opined that picking Pritzker as VP could be "a good choice for winning over Never-Trumpers."