Kamala Harris to consider Gary Peters as running mate: Report

Kamala Harris may consider Michigan Senator Gary Peters as the vice presidential pick for the Democrat Party’s 2024 presidential ticket.
Kamala Harris may consider Michigan Senator Gary Peters as the vice presidential pick for the Democrat Party’s 2024 presidential ticket.

According to a new article from Axios, Kamala Harris is reportedly considering Michigan Senator Gary Peters as her running mate in 2024.

The news outlet claimed that the push to consider Peters is coming primarily from labor unions, and the addition of the Michigan Senator could strengthen the Harris ticket in the battleground state.

Axios said Peters is interested in taking the position and is currently trying to bolster support from his fellow Democrats for a potential vice presidential run.

Where does Gary Peters stand on crypto?

According to Stand With Crypto, a nonprofit political advocacy group, Peters is “strongly against crypto.” The nonprofit noted the senator’s co-sponsorship of the Digital Asset Money Laundering Act in 2023 but also mentioned his support for the repeal of SAB-121, a provision that would have required banks holding digital assets on behalf of their customers to record those assets as liabilities on their balance sheets.

Related: What crypto policies can voters expect from potential VPs under Kamala Harris?

The Money Laundering Act of 2023 centered around curtailing the use of crypto in alleged terror financing. At the time the legislation was introduced, Peters wrote to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan to address the problem:

“Given the clear and present danger posed by the financing of these and other militant organizations, we ask the Administration to provide additional details on its plan to prevent the use of crypto for the financing of terrorism.”
Source: Michigan Senator Gary Peters

Kamala Harris still hasn't revealed much about her crypto stance

Although cryptocurrencies have been elevated to the national spotlight and have become a political campaign issue, Kamala Harris has been largely silent on future policy decisions for digital assets under a potential Harris administration.

Entrepreneur Mark Cuban voiced reason for optimism, claiming that Harris is “far more open” to business and innovation than is widely perceived by the voting public, while Riot Platforms CEO Jason Les expressed doubt that Harris would deviate from the current policies of the Biden administration.

Meanwhile, Congressional Democrats penned a letter to Harris urging her to pivot from the Democrat Party's hostility toward crypto and foster dialogue with the digital asset industry.

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