Vice President and Democratic nominee Kamala Harris announced on Tuesday that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will be her running mate in the upcoming US elections. They will face off against former President Donald Trump and his vice-presidential pick, JD Vance.
In Walz, Harris is opting for a governor from the Midwest who has military experience and supports unions.He has successfully implemented a progressive Democratic agenda in his state, which includes comprehensive protections for abortion rights and substantial support for families.
By having the straightforward Walz on the national ticket, Harris not only strengthens her position in Minnesota but also gains an advantage in the neighboring Midwestern swing states of Wisconsin and Michigan.
Who is Minnesota governor Tim Walz?
Governor Tim Walz, currently serving his second term as Minnesota’s governor, previously represented a conservative rural district in Congress. During his tenure, Walz implemented various progressive policies, such as paid family leave, universal school breakfast and lunch, recreational marijuana legalisation, abortion rights, and gun control measures.
‘A vocal Kamala supporter’
Walz, a former high school teacher and National Guard member, has been a vocal supporter of Harris, making appearances on major news channels. One notable moment was when he attended a St. Paul event wearing a grey T-shirt and camouflage hat, which gained significant attention online.
In a recent interview, he characterized the GOP candidates as “just weird,” a description that has since been echoed and emphasized by other Democrats.
While speaking at a campaign event to raise funds for Harris in Minneapolis on Monday, Walz reiterated his earlier statement, saying: “It wasn’t a slur to call these guys weird. It was an observation.” His comments underscore the stark differences between the Democratic and Republican candidates in this race, as perceived by Harris’ supporters.
Earlier while speaking to CNN Walz had defended Harris against criticisms, especially those from former President Donald Trump. “He’s going to roll it out, mispronounce names, you know, to try and make the case,” Walz had said on CNN. “The fact of the matter is where you see the policies that Vice President Harris was a part of making, Democratic governors across the country executed those policies and quality of life is higher, the economies are better, all of those things, educational attainment is better.”
‘Help in raising campaign funds’
As the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, Walz may also assist Harris in raising campaign funds, as he has contributed to the DGA’s record-breaking fundraising efforts this year.
In July, DGA had announced an unprecedented fundraising achievement, raising over $61 million across all its entities since the beginning of the year. This staggering sum is more than double the amount the organization had raised by this point in 2020, which was the most recent comparable year.
Walz, who grew up in rural Nebraska, joined the Army National Guard in 1981, shortly after completing high school.
Walz first won a seat in Congress in 2006, representing a predominantly rural district in southern Minnesota. During his tenure, he focused on advocating for veterans’ issues. Walz has an extensive military background, having served for 24 years in the Army National Guard and attaining the rank of command sergeant major, one of the highest enlisted positions.
Although Walz enjoys strong support among progressives and younger voters, some critics have raised concerns about his age, as he is close in age to Harris, and recent debates have centered around President Biden’s age.
In Walz, Harris is opting for a governor from the Midwest who has military experience and supports unions.He has successfully implemented a progressive Democratic agenda in his state, which includes comprehensive protections for abortion rights and substantial support for families.
By having the straightforward Walz on the national ticket, Harris not only strengthens her position in Minnesota but also gains an advantage in the neighboring Midwestern swing states of Wisconsin and Michigan.
Who is Minnesota governor Tim Walz?
Governor Tim Walz, currently serving his second term as Minnesota’s governor, previously represented a conservative rural district in Congress. During his tenure, Walz implemented various progressive policies, such as paid family leave, universal school breakfast and lunch, recreational marijuana legalisation, abortion rights, and gun control measures.
‘A vocal Kamala supporter’
Walz, a former high school teacher and National Guard member, has been a vocal supporter of Harris, making appearances on major news channels. One notable moment was when he attended a St. Paul event wearing a grey T-shirt and camouflage hat, which gained significant attention online.
In a recent interview, he characterized the GOP candidates as “just weird,” a description that has since been echoed and emphasized by other Democrats.
While speaking at a campaign event to raise funds for Harris in Minneapolis on Monday, Walz reiterated his earlier statement, saying: “It wasn’t a slur to call these guys weird. It was an observation.” His comments underscore the stark differences between the Democratic and Republican candidates in this race, as perceived by Harris’ supporters.
Earlier while speaking to CNN Walz had defended Harris against criticisms, especially those from former President Donald Trump. “He’s going to roll it out, mispronounce names, you know, to try and make the case,” Walz had said on CNN. “The fact of the matter is where you see the policies that Vice President Harris was a part of making, Democratic governors across the country executed those policies and quality of life is higher, the economies are better, all of those things, educational attainment is better.”
‘Help in raising campaign funds’
As the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, Walz may also assist Harris in raising campaign funds, as he has contributed to the DGA’s record-breaking fundraising efforts this year.
In July, DGA had announced an unprecedented fundraising achievement, raising over $61 million across all its entities since the beginning of the year. This staggering sum is more than double the amount the organization had raised by this point in 2020, which was the most recent comparable year.
Walz, who grew up in rural Nebraska, joined the Army National Guard in 1981, shortly after completing high school.
Walz first won a seat in Congress in 2006, representing a predominantly rural district in southern Minnesota. During his tenure, he focused on advocating for veterans’ issues. Walz has an extensive military background, having served for 24 years in the Army National Guard and attaining the rank of command sergeant major, one of the highest enlisted positions.
Although Walz enjoys strong support among progressives and younger voters, some critics have raised concerns about his age, as he is close in age to Harris, and recent debates have centered around President Biden’s age.