Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for U.S. president, has named Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, as her running mate.
There had been heavy speculation as to which candidate Harris would select, with Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania’s name also being floated as a potential candidate ahead of her announcement.
“I know many of you are eager to find out who I will be selecting to join me on the campaign trail, and hopefully in the White House, as my Vice President,” Harris wrote at the time.
“Though I have not made my decision yet, it is important to me that grassroots supporters – like you – have direct updates about the state of the race,” she said.
Harris and Walz will take on Republican candidates Donald Trump and JD Vance in November.
BREAKING: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will be the Democratic VP candidate, alongside Kamala Harris.
— More Perfect Union (@MorePerfectUS) August 6, 2024
Walz forged a reputation as a Governor who makes good policy happen.
Last year he signed a law guaranteeing free breakfast and lunch for all Minnesota students. And that's not all ???? pic.twitter.com/i1GEzfmI6r
Walz, a former high school geography teacher, hails from West Point, Nebraska, a community of about 3,500 people northwest of Omaha, per AP News. Walz joined the Army National Guard and served 24 years before retiring from a field artillery battalion in 2005 as a command sergeant major—one of the military’s highest enlisted ranks in a color-bearing Army unit. He first ran for office in 2006 and held onto the seat until he won the Minnesota governorship in 2018. He was then reelected as governor in 2022, where he made considerable strides in policy, including the introduction of universal school meals, legalized marijuana, abortion protections and gun safety measures. He was also praised for his work to provide protections for gender-affirming healthcare. Last May, he signed a bill to expand voting rights in Minnesota for an estimated 55,000 formerly incarcerated residents.
Speaking to CNN, a source divulged that Harris’ “chemistry” with her Walz was “really important, and it really clicked for both of them.”
“The time they spent together when Walz was campaigning for reelection in 2022 and when they visited the abortion clinic in March this year apparently made a big impact. Then, on top of that, the Harris campaign, like all of us, saw how energizing Walz was for the base. They saw how popular he is in Minnesota after passing a historic, progressive agenda here. The vetting on Walz went extremely well. So like people are saying, kind of a Goldilocks situation. Every element was just right,” the source added.
Walz’s track record of delivering progressive policy could help him win over Midwestern swing states. Harris and Walz will begin a tour of battleground states today in Philadelphia and ending this Saturday in Las Vegas.
