Hillary Clinton is narrowing her running mate search to just a few names, vetting candidates and setting up interviews with potential ticket-mates.
According to a report on Monday, the current shortlist includes Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro of Texas.
Most notably, Clinton’s primary opponent Bernie Sanders is not under consideration.
While the Clinton campaign has been sorting through potential running mates for more than a month now, it has dramatically narrowed the search since primary voting ended last week. Other names that had been floated, but were not mentioned for consideration, include New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar.
If Clinton were to pick Warren, she would be adding one of the most progressive members of the Senate to her ticket, which would help her unify the Democratic Party and win over the support of voters who preferred Sanders throughout the primary. Kaine could help Clinton carry Virginia, a crucial swing state, and Castro would help Clinton solidify the Latino vote.
Other names may be under consideration, but the two Clinton staffers overseeing the process, John Podesta and Cheryl Mills, have not leaked any information. Although the campaign is remaining quiet about the process, in early June Clinton told CBS that she would be “looking first and foremost as to who I believe could fulfill the responsibilities of being president and commander in chief.”
