Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for US president, has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her vice-presidential candidate for the upcoming November election.
This choice concludes widespread speculation about Harris’s running mate for the election, where she will face Donald Trump, the Republican nominee and former president, and his vice-presidential pick, Ohio Senator JD Vance.
Walz first ran for office in 2006, securing a victory in a Republican-leaning congressional district by unseating the incumbent. He maintained his congressional seat until he was elected Governor of Minnesota in 2018, and subsequently re-elected in 2022.
During his tenure, Minnesota has achieved notable progress in progressive legislation, including the implementation of universal school meals, the legalization of marijuana, the protection of abortion rights, and the enactment of gun control laws.
Prior to his political career, Walz was a geography teacher for high school students in Mankato, Minnesota, and served 24 years in the Army National Guard.
In an Instagram post about her choice, Harris remarked, “One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle-class families run deep. It’s personal.”
She highlighted his Nebraska roots and how his family depended on social security benefits after his father died of cancer, and how he utilized the GI Bill for his education.
Walz has also served as a high school football coach and advisor to the school’s gay-straight alliance. His background is not only impressive on its own but also shapes his approach to governance, according to Harris.
Harris pointed out the Minnesota Democrats’ legislative achievements, specifically laws protecting abortion rights and mandating universal background checks for gun purchases, as influencing her decision.
She added, “But what impressed me most about Tim is his deep commitment to his family.”
“We are going to forge a strong partnership. We are going to assemble a formidable team. We are determined to win this election.”
Walz posted on X on Tuesday, “Vice-President Harris is showing us the politics of what’s possible. It reminds me a bit of the first day of school.”
His down-to-earth Midwestern appeal and straight talk have significantly boosted his viability as a vice-presidential candidate, and as the leader of the Democratic Governors Association, he has actively campaigned for Biden and Harris over the past year.
His straightforward critique of Trump and his supporters, calling them “weird,” has resonated strongly with national Democrats.
His television appearances became popular, demonstrating his pushback against the Republicans’ odd behavior and highlighting his accomplishments as governor and the Democrats’ governance plans if they reclaim the White House.
In a television interview, Walz explained his reasons for labeling Trump’s behavior as weird, citing the danger Trump poses to women’s rights and constitutional values.
But he’s also on the campaign trail “talking about Hannibal Lecter and shocking sharks and just whatever crazy thing pops into his mind.”
“Have you ever seen the guy laugh? That seems very weird to me, that an adult can go through six and a half years of being in the public eye. If he has laughed, it’s at someone, not with someone. That is weird behavior,” Walz said of Trump.
His former colleagues have praised Walz for his ability to connect with pivotal voters in the Rust Belt, clarifying not only the negatives of the Republicans but also the Democrats’ plans for governance.
Some analysts believed that Harris, being the first woman of color nominated by a major party, was likely to choose a white male running mate to balance the ticket.
The 59-year-old former senator from California aims to build upon a strong campaign start, stepping in for Joe Biden, who withdrew from the race following a poor debate performance against Trump.
Harris and Walz are anticipated to receive an enthusiastic reception at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on August 19, supported by endorsements from former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
A recent New York Times/Siena College poll on July 25 showed Harris closing the gap on Trump, with Trump leading 48% to 46% among registered voters, a narrower margin compared to his earlier lead over Biden.
Republicans swiftly criticized Walz as a “radical leftist,” alleging that his selection is a boon for Republicans, suggesting it could undermine the Harris campaign.
The Trump campaign called Walz a “west coast wannabe,” accusing him of trying to transform Minnesota into a reflection of California.
They highlighted a 2017 statement by Walz about electoral maps dominated by red, disparagingly referring to those areas as “mostly cows and rocks.”
The Trump campaign promised to expose the truth, branding both Kamala Harris and Tim Walz as “dangerously liberal extremists,” and declaring their vision for America a nightmare for all.
