Trump has been promoting potential VP candidates for months, but he might choose someone unexpected.

In the race to become Donald Trump’s running mate for the 2024 election, a familiar list of Republican names has been circulating. Trump himself has been mentioning potential candidates in interviews and appearances, but there is speculation within his orbit that he may surprise everyone with his final choice.

Despite Trump frequently mentioning names like Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, J.D. Vance, and Elise Stefanik, there is a belief that the more he talks about a candidate, the less likely they are to be chosen. This has led to speculation that Trump may pick someone off the public’s radar.

The list of potential running mates seems to be growing rather than shrinking, with new names like Maria Elvira Salazar, Tom Cotton, Bill Hagerty, Tulsi Gabbard, and Nikki Haley being considered. Trump’s openness to feedback from donors, allies, and advisers has allowed for a wide range of suggestions to be put forward.

Among the contenders, there is a growing interest in picking a Hispanic running mate to appeal to a critical voting bloc. Names like Rubio and Salazar have been mentioned in this context. However, the decision is not expected until closer to the Republican National Convention in July, as Trump and his team aim to build anticipation for the announcement.