If you’ve been doom-scrolling lately, you know the vibe. The top of the ticket gets all the oxygen. We talk about the presidential candidates until we’re blue—or red—in the face. But honestly, the person standing one heartbeat away from the Resolute Desk is just as vital. They aren't just "backup." They are the messengers, the attack dogs, and sometimes, the actual tie-breakers in a gridlocked Senate.
So, who are the vice presidential candidates really?
Forget the 30-second soundbites for a second. We’re looking at a list that spans from a guy who literally wrote the book on rural struggle to a high school football coach who turned into a governor. And yeah, there are some wildcards from the third parties that most people sorta forget even exist until they see the ballot in the booth.
The Big Two: Walz vs. Vance
It's a study in contrasts. Seriously.
On one side, you have Tim Walz. He’s the Democratic pick, currently the Governor of Minnesota. He’s got that "Midwestern Dad" energy that the Harris campaign is leaning into hard. Before he was in politics, he spent 24 years in the Army National Guard and worked as a social studies teacher. He even coached football. People keep calling him "the guy next door," and honestly, he kinda looks the part.
Then you’ve got JD Vance. The Republican Senator from Ohio. If you recognize the name, it’s probably because of Hillbilly Elegy. His memoir about growing up in a struggling Appalachian family was everywhere a few years back. He’s a Yale Law grad and a former venture capitalist. He’s much younger—the first Millennial on a major party ticket. He went from being a "Never Trump" guy in 2016 to being one of the most vocal MAGA supporters in the Senate.
Talk about a pivot.
Tim Walz: The Coach in the Capitol
Walz isn't new to this. He served in Congress for over a decade before becoming governor. In Minnesota, he’s pushed through some heavy-hitting progressive stuff: free school meals, codified abortion rights, and legalizing recreational marijuana.
But it hasn't all been easy. Critics often point to his handling of the 2020 protests in Minneapolis after George Floyd's murder. Republicans say he waited too long to call in the National Guard; his supporters say he was trying to keep the peace without escalating. It's a point of friction that comes up in basically every debate.
JD Vance: The Hillbilly to Washington Pipeline
Vance’s story is wild. He was raised mostly by his grandparents—"Mamaw" and "Papaw"—because his mother struggled with addiction. After a stint in the Marines as a combat correspondent, he hit the Ivy League.
His political evolution is what really gets people talking. Back in 2016, he was comparing Donald Trump to "cultural heroin." Fast forward to now, and he’s the chosen successor to that very movement. He’s leaned hard into "New Right" populism, focusing on trade, immigration, and a skepticism of foreign wars that used to be a staple of the left.
The Outsiders: Don't Forget the Third Parties
Most people think it’s a two-horse race. It isn't.
If you look at the actual ballots, you’ll see names like Butch Ware and Mike ter Maat.
Butch Ware is the Green Party VP candidate, running with Jill Stein. He’s an associate professor at UC Santa Barbara. He’s an expert in African history and Islamic studies. He’s been super vocal about the war in Gaza, which is basically the cornerstone of their campaign.
Then there’s the Libertarian, Mike ter Maat. This guy is a weird mix: he was a financial economist for the White House and a police officer in Florida. His whole thing is about "decentralizing authority." Basically, he wants the government to do way less of... well, everything.
And we can't ignore Nicole Shanahan. She was Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s pick before things got really complicated with his campaign. She’s a Silicon Valley lawyer and philanthropist. She brought a ton of tech-world connections and, frankly, a lot of funding to that independent run. Even though RFK Jr. suspended his campaign in some states, her name is still a huge part of the 2024 conversation.
What Do These People Actually Do?
Basically, the VP has two official jobs according to the Constitution:
- Preside over the Senate (and cast tie-breaking votes).
- Take over if the President can't do the job anymore.
But in the modern world, they do way more. They travel to countries the President is too busy to visit. They head up task forces. Most importantly, they act as a bridge to specific voters.
Walz is there to keep the "Blue Wall" (Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin) from crumbling. He speaks "Midwestern" fluently.
Vance is there to solidify the populist base. He’s the intellectual engine for a movement that wants to reshape the Republican party for the next thirty years.
The Comparison at a Glance
If you're trying to keep them straight, look at their backgrounds:
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- Tim Walz (D): Military vet, teacher, 6 terms in Congress, 2 terms as Governor. Focus: Reproductive rights, labor, "common sense" vibes.
- JD Vance (R): Marine, author, venture capitalist, 1st term Senator. Focus: America First trade, border security, populist reform.
- Butch Ware (G): Academic, historian, activist. Focus: Anti-war, climate justice, ending corporate rule.
- Mike ter Maat (L): Economist, former cop. Focus: Free markets, ending the war on drugs, smaller government.
Why This Matters Right Now
It’s easy to dismiss the VP slot as a "participation trophy" for the person who didn't get the top job. But look at history. LBJ, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, Joe Biden—they were all VPs before they sat in the big chair.
When you're looking at who are the vice presidential candidates, you aren't just looking at a running mate. You're looking at the potential future of the American presidency.
Next Steps for You:
Check your local sample ballot. Seriously, go to a site like Ballotpedia or your Secretary of State’s website. Third-party candidates don't make it onto the ballot in every state, so you need to see who is actually an option where you live. Once you have the names, look up one specific policy for each. Don't rely on the TV ads—they’re mostly noise. Look at what they've actually done in their "real" lives before the cameras started following them.