Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is Kamala Harris’ Vice-Presidential Candidate
BY SDMN
Kamala Harris selected Minnesota governor Tim Walz as her running mate in a move that aims to appeal to rural voters while also highlighting his progressive credentials.
Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a rising figure in Democratic politics, as her vice-presidential running mate. The duo made their first public appearance together on Tuesday in Philadelphia, launching a new series of events in critical battleground states. During the event, Walz shared his rural background and extensive public service career, emphasizing the values of community and common good, which Harris’ campaign hopes will appeal to rural white voters.
Walz grew up in West Point, a small town in Nebraska, and served 24 years in the Army National Guard before becoming a teacher. In the 1990s, he and his wife relocated to Mankato in southern Minnesota. There, he taught social studies and coached football at Mankato West High School, leading the 1999 team to win the school’s first of four state championships. During an event, he highlighted that his students inspired his career in public service. Additionally, he didn’t hold back from criticizing his Republican counterpart, Ohio Senator JD Vance. He also condemned Trump’s handling of the COVID-19 crisis, the economy, and rising crime rates, expressing enthusiasm about debating Vance.
Kamala Harris’ selection of Walz is strategic, aiming to balance her ticket with his executive experience, military background, and appeal to rural voters who have leaned Republican in recent years. However, Walz has also been renowned among progressives because of his successful tenure as governor, which includes initiatives on climate change, middle-class tax cuts, and expanded paid leave. In addition, Walz has been a strong supporter of reproductive rights and rose to prominence in recent weeks because of his framing of Trump and Vance as “weird,” which was quickly embraced by establishment Democrats and serves as a striking contrast from other rhetorical frameworks that presented them as “threats”. At the event, he echoed a similar perspective: “Even if we wouldn’t make the same choice for ourselves, there’s a golden rule: mind your own damn business!” he said.
It’s also important to highlight that the event took place in Pennsylvania, one of the key states Harris needs to win to get to the White House. There, Governor Josh Shapiro, a popular figure in Pennsylvania and one of the people on Harris’s VP shortlist, lent his enthusiastic support to Walz, further solidifying the Democratic front in this key battleground. The Harris campaign has seen a significant boost since announcing Walz as the vice-presidential candidate, raising over $35 million and gaining momentum as the campaign starts to diminish Trump’s lead. However, the Republican response has been swift and critical. Trump and Vance labeled Walz as a radical leftist, questioning Harris judgment and attempting to paint the Democratic ticket as too extreme. Vance specifically criticized Walz’s handling of the George Floyd protests. The Harris-Walz campaign is expected to continue with a robust itinerary, focusing on voter outreach in swing states like Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada.
