5 people who could be Donald Trump's veep pick

Veepstakes for presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump may soon be coming to a close, with the billionaire expecting to announce his vice presidential pick before the GOP convention in July.

Trump has said before that he would prefer a VP who complements his own business bona fides with political experience, hinting that a Washington veteran would be his ideal choice.

"I have the business -- let's call it talents," Trump told MSNBC in May. "I think I'll probably go the political route, somebody that can help me with legislation and somebody that can help me get things passed and somebody that's been friends with the senators and the congressman and all."

Here are five contenders to be Trump's running mate:

Ex-House Speaker Newt Gingrich

Newt Gingrich, who served as speaker of the House from 1995 to 1999 and ran for president in 2012, is one pick with plenty of Washington experience.

He helped lead Republicans to victory with a Contract with America, that helped the GOP win the House in 1996 for the first time in over 40 years. While he was speaker, Congress passed a balanced budget and welfare reform.

Gingrich has already received vetting paperwork, met with the presumptive GOP nominee in New York City's Trump Tower shortly after the Fourth of July weekend and campaigned with him in early July. Further, he told Fox News that if he's asked, he "would feel compelled to serve the country."

Trump's relationship with the ex-House speaker, however, hasn't always been rosy while on the campaign trail. After Trump's attacks of a Hispanic federal judge, Gingrich called the comments "inexcusable" and "one of the worst mistakes Trump has made."

The billionaire fired back in June on Fox News: "I was surprised at Newt. I thought it was inappropriate what he said."

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, once Trump's presidential primary rival, is now a strong contender for the No. 2 slot.

Christie was the first major establishment Republican to endorse Trump and he's been out on the campaign trail with Trump more than anyone else who's said to be in contention for the #2 spot.

"I'm certainly looking at him and I always will. Whether it's for that or something else," Trump told conservative radio host Howie Carr of Christie, who was the first governor to endorse Trump shortly after he dropped out of the White House race.

Christie received vetting paperwork earlier this month.

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence met with Trump over the Fourth of July weekend, fueling speculation about the billionaire's veep consideration.

Of the meeting, Pence's deputy campaign manager Marc Lotter said it was "very consistent with meetings Mr. Trump is holding with many key party leaders."

Pence, a Republican with a strong conservative record on social issues, also served six terms as an Indiana congressman.

He's considered to be business-friendly and slashed Indiana's corporate tax rate to 4.9 percent. Unemployment in the state has fallen from 8.4 percent to 5 percent since he took office. Last year, he signed the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which opponents charged could allow discrimination against the LGBT community. He later clarified the law to make it clear businesses couldn't deny services to anyone.

Pence initially endorsed Trump's Republican primary opponent, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, but later threw his weight behind Trump after Cruz dropped his White House bid.

Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions

Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions was Trump's first Senate endorsement, announcing his support for the billionaire in February when he joined Trump at a Madison, Alabama rally.

During that event, Sessions donned a "Make America Great Again" hat and declared, of Trump's following: "There is a movement afoot that must not fade away."

Since then, he's been an informal adviser to Trump. Sessions is counted among the most conservative senators -- he largely shares Trump's views on immigration and has defended him and urged his Hill colleagues to get behind Trump's presidential candidacy. The Alabama senator is also a former U.S. attorney who was nominated to the bench but was never confirmed.

Retired General Michael Flynn

Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, is a lifelong Democrat -- but Trump is considering the retired general to bolster the national security credentials on the Republican ticket.

According to a Washington Post report, the billionaire finds that a Trump-Flynn ticket is "a brand he finds appealing."