Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for the US presidency, has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Walz, a former Congressman, army veteran, teacher, and football coach, hails from a small town in the American Midwest. This selection aims to challenge the Donald Trump-JD Vance Republican ticket.
On Tuesday morning, Harris made the announcement on Instagram, expressing her pride in selecting Walz. She emphasized his deep commitment to middle-class families and noted that his values resonated with her on a personal level.
Tim Walz, who leads the Democratic Governors Association, was not widely known nationally until recently. Three weeks ago, he gained attention by appearing on television networks and social media, presenting a compelling counter-narrative to the Republicans. His grounded understanding of the White working class in middle America, a crucial battleground, bolstered his credibility. Walz’s blend of sharpness and humor, particularly in calling out the Republican leadership’s extreme statements as “weird,” has become a significant part of Democratic messaging.
Walz’s deep Midwest roots lend authenticity to his challenge against the Republican far-Right, who often portray Democrats as out-of-touch coastal elites. In response to Trump’s choice of JD Vance, aimed at appealing to working-class voters in the same region, Walz’s background and narrative stand as a strong counterpoint.
Harris highlighted Walz’s biography to showcase his deep roots and personal struggles. Growing up in a small Nebraska town, working on a farm, relying on social security after his father’s early death, and serving 24 years in the National Guard, Walz’s life story is marked by resilience and dedication. He later used military benefits to attend college, became a teacher, and served as both a football coach and advisor of the Gay-Straight Alliance at a Minnesota school.
In her Instagram post, Harris praised Walz’s achievements, including working with Republicans on infrastructure investments, cutting taxes for working families, and passing laws for paid family leave and universal background checks for gun purchases. Notably, he made Minnesota the first state to provide constitutional abortion protections after Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Walz represented a conservative Minnesota district in the US House of Representatives, serving as a ranking member of the Veterans Affairs Committee. Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi praised his selection, calling him a true heartland Democrat.
Harris’s decision followed her securing unanimous support from party delegates, officially becoming the Democratic nominee. This move came amid polls showing Harris gaining an edge over Trump, a significant shift from two weeks prior when Trump had a comfortable lead against President Joe Biden, who withdrew from the race due to age-related concerns.
Tim Walz responded to the announcement on X, expressing his honor and commitment to the campaign. He likened the experience to the first day of school, urging supporters to join the effort.
Harris and Walz are set to hold their first rally in Pennsylvania, kicking off a tour across key swing states, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, North Carolina, and Nevada. Walz has already challenged JD Vance in a media appearance, criticizing the Republican nominee’s lack of understanding of small-town America and framing the Harris campaign around the idea of “freedom.”
Harris also considered Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, but his pro-Israel stance and support for school vouchers made him less favorable to progressives and teachers’ unions. Walz, with his pro-labor position, support for abortion rights, and advocacy for gun safety, garnered broad support from unions, progressives, and left-leaning students.
