Mark Cuban Turned Down Offer to Run as Kamala Harris’ Vice President
Before the 2024 election, Mark Cuban was offered a chance to join Kamala Harris on the Democratic ticket—but the billionaire businessman said no.
Cuban shared that Harris’ team reached out and asked him to submit paperwork to begin the vetting process for the vice-presidential role. He declined, explaining, “I’m not very good as the number two person.”
Known for his blunt honesty, Cuban said he didn’t believe he’d be a good fit for the job. “The last thing we need is me telling Kamala, the president, ‘No, that’s a dumb idea,’” he said. He added, “I’m not real good at the shaking hands and kissing babies.”
Reflecting on what his presence on the ticket might have meant, Cuban noted, “My personality is completely different than Tim’s. My experiences, my backgrounds are completely different. I think I cut through the shit more directly. I’m not a politician.”
He admitted the pairing would have made for a bumpy road. “It would have been different, but it would have been awful. She would have fired me within six days.”
Though he declined the VP spot, Cuban went on to support Harris during her campaign and even offered to help her administration in other ways—like heading up a federal agency. Ultimately, he decided he wasn’t interested in a formal government role. Harris went on to select Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.
