Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz as her running mate for the November 5, 2024, election in the United States.
Harris made the announcement on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
Walz, a 60-year-old U.S. Army National Guard veteran and former teacher, began his political career by winning a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 from a Republican-leaning district, where he served for 12 years before becoming Minnesota’s governor in 2018.
As governor, Walz has championed a progressive agenda that includes free school meals, ambitious climate change initiatives, tax cuts for the middle class, and expanded paid leave for workers in Minnesota.
While Walz has been a strong advocate for women’s reproductive rights, he has also shown a conservative side during his tenure in the U.S. House, defending agricultural interests and supporting gun rights.
Harris, the daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, is bolstering her campaign with the addition of Walz, a popular Midwestern politician from a state that consistently votes Democratic in presidential elections. Minnesota’s proximity to Wisconsin and Michigan—two vital battlegrounds—could be pivotal this year.
These states are crucial in determining the election outcome, and Walz is seen as adept at engaging with white, rural voters who have increasingly leaned toward Donald Trump, Harris’ rival for the presidency.
According to Reuters, the Harris campaign hopes that Walz’s notable National Guard career, successful tenure as a high school football coach, and his entertaining “Dad joke” videos will resonate with undecided voters who are ambivalent about another Trump presidency.
At 59, Harris has revived the Democratic Party’s hopes since she became the nominee after President Joe Biden, 81, exited the race under party pressure on July 21.
Walz was relatively unknown outside his state until the Harris “veepstakes” gained momentum, but his profile has risen significantly. A popular figure in Congress, he reportedly has the support of influential former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who played a key role in convincing Biden to step aside.
Harris and Walz will be up against Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance, another military veteran from the Midwest, on November 5.
Campaigning for Harris—often sporting a camouflage baseball hat and T-shirt—Walz has criticized Trump and Vance as “weird,” a memorable jab that has resonated across social media and among Democratic activists.
