1984 Democratic Party vice presidential candidate selection

This article lists those who were potential candidates for the Democratic nomination for vice president of the United States in the 1984 election. Former Vice President Walter Mondale won the 1984 Democratic nomination for president of the United States, and chose New York Representative Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate. Ferraro was the first woman to be a part of a national ticket for a major party. Mondale chose Ferraro in hopes of energizing the base and winning the votes of women, but also because he viewed her as a solid legislator who had won the approval of Speaker Tip O'Neill. The Mondale–Ferraro ticket ultimately lost to the Reagan–Bush ticket. This is the last time the Democratic vice presidential nominee was not the incumbent vice president or a senator, and, not counting the times when the incumbent president (and by extension, the incumbent vice president) was running for re-election, the last time the Democratic vice presidential nominee was not a senator.

Speculation
On December 10, 1983, the Alabama Legislative Black Caucus endorsed Mondale for president and Jesse Jackson for vice president.

George McGovern supported selecting Gary Hart as the vice presidential nominee.

Cecil Andrus, the co-chair of Mondale's presidential campaign, stated that he should pick a woman to serve as his running mate. He suggested Pat Schroeder, Geraldine Ferraro and Dianne Feinstein.

Selection
John R. Reilly, an attorney and a senior adviser to Mondale, managed the search for a running mate. Mondale seriously considered Hart, but Mondale refused to consider a second rival, Jesse Jackson, on the grounds that the differences between their policies were too great.

Mondale conducted interviews with Feinstein and Lloyd Bentsen. The National Organization for Women demanded that a woman be selected.

Media speculation on possible vice presidential candidates
Members of Congress