Harris Picks Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as Her Running Mate

By Jacob Burg and Lawrence Wilson

Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate on Aug. 6, capping more than two weeks of speculation over who would join her at the top of the Democrat ticket.

“I am proud to announce that I’ve asked Tim Walz to be my running mate,” Harris wrote on X.

“As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his. It’s great to have him on the team.”

The announcement was made the morning after Harris was officially nominated as the Democratic Party nominee in a virtual roll call.

Harris said last week that she would pick her vice presidential candidate ahead of a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Aug. 6. This marks the start of a four-day battleground state tour that will take her to seven states with her new running mate: Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada.

Walz called it an “honor of a lifetime to join @kamalaharris in this campaign” in a post on X.

“I’m all in. Vice President Harris is showing us the politics of what’s possible. It reminds me a bit of the first day of school,” he wrote.

“So, let’s get this done, folks!”

Walz, 60, began his career in the Army National Guard, serving for 24 years, before becoming a high school teacher in Mankato. He was first elected to Congress in 2006, defeating incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht in Minnesota’s first congressional district, and was reelected for another five terms.

He was the highest-ranking enlisted soldier to serve in Congress and was rated the 7th most bipartisan representative in the 114th Congress by the Lugar Center at Georgetown University.

Walz defeated Republican Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson in 2018 to become the 41st governor of Minnesota. In office, Walz spearheaded a plan to provide universal free school meals for students, pushed to get Minnesota on 100 percent “clean electricity” by 2040, and expanded paid leave for workers.

The governor also signed a hands-free driving bill into law, which prohibits the use of cell phones while driving to reduce distractions. He also worked to preserve Minnesota’s Health Care Access Fund and lowered taxes on seniors and small businesses.

According to strategist Brian Darling, Walz is perceived as someone who can speak to swing state voters, although he is not from a swing state. Minnesota is one of the most reliably Democrat states in presidential elections—it hasn’t voted for a Republican in 52 years.

Walz was also suggested by the nearly 50 progressive leaders who urged Harris not to select Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running mate. Walz is seen as popular with midwestern and union voters, and is sometimes highlighted for his military background.

Other candidates that made the vice presidential shortlist include Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Shapiro, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg.

Shapiro responded to the news in a post on X.

“Vice President Kamala Harris has my enthusiastic support—and I know that Governor Tim Walz is an exceptionally strong addition to the ticket who will help Kamala move our country forward,” he wrote.

“Over the next 90 days, I look forward to traveling all across the Commonwealth to unite Pennsylvanians behind Kamala Harris’ campaign to defeat Donald Trump, become the 47th President of the United States, and build a better future for our country.”

Shapiro said he will join Harris and Walz Tuesday night at the vice president’s campaign rally in Philadelphia.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.