Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate. Walz, who has been a vocal supporter of Harris since President Biden endorsed her, is seen as a strategic choice to help secure critical electoral votes in the Midwest, particularly from his home state of Minnesota and battleground states like Wisconsin.
Tim Walz was first elected as Governor of Minnesota in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He is known for his progressive policies, including establishing reproductive freedom, securing protections for transgender individuals, banning conversion therapy, ending ideological book bans, and implementing free school lunches for every child in the state. His popularity in the Midwest and his progressive track record are expected to bolster Harris’s campaign.
Harris had considered other potential running mates, such as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, both moderates. By selecting Walz, Harris may face scrutiny over whether she aligns more closely with progressive or moderate policies, as she has recently moderated some of her previous progressive stances.
Walz, originally from Nebraska, moved to Minnesota in 1996 to work as a high school geography teacher and football coach. He is married with two children. Harris and Walz are set to begin campaigning together, focusing on seven battleground states in the coming week.
The selection of Walz is seen as a significant move in Harris’s campaign strategy, aiming to unify different factions within the Democratic Party and appeal to voters across key swing states.
