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Tom Perez
Prediction Markets: 8 percent
Background:
Labor Secretary Tom Perez fell out of the top five contenders last week, but joins the ranks again. He endorsed Clinton at an Iowa campaign event in December, and has remained a sleeper pick for vice president, while maintaining a presence on the campaign trail. This week, Perez generated more buzz as a potential running mate for Clinton. He delivered anti-Trump rhetoric when he spoke to Virginia democrats in Richmond Saturday night. However, he was reluctant when asked if he thinks he’s a contender to join Clinton's ticket. “I honestly don’t give a thought for the following reason,” Perez said in an interview with The Washington Post. “I’ve got so much going on in my day job. And I’ve been around politics enough to know all the swirl that’s fit to print, and so I focus on the reality of the here and now.” He has been active on Clinton's campaign trail. His appearance in Virginia came after stops in Washington state and Wisconsin for Clinton. Perez also traveled to Arizona, Iowa and New York to campaign on her behalf during the primary.
Perez, the son of immigrants from the Dominican Republic, has strong ties to labor groups and the Latino community. As Politico puts it, "Perez checks every box Clinton's going to need if she is the nominee: progressives, unions, African-Americans, Obama loyalists, Latinos.” Perez spent years working in the Department of Justice. He focused on key issues for minorities and liberals, including voting rights, civil rights and police misconduct. He led the DOJ's investigation into Trayvon Martin's shooting by George Zimmerman. Perez has limited experience in elected office, winning elected office only once to the Montgomery County Council in Maryland in 2002. (Getty)