Kamala Harris Picks Tim Walz as Vice Presidential Running Mate

By IndraStra Global News Team

Cover Image Attribute: The file photo of Tim Walz / Source: Stephen Maturen / Credit: Getty Images

On Tuesday (August 6), Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris announced that she has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Walz, a progressive policy advocate and straightforward communicator from America's heartland, is expected to help attract rural, white voters. Harris told her supporters the news via text, stating, "I’m excited to announce that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will be joining our campaign as my running mate. Tim is a proven leader with an impressive record of accomplishments for Minnesota families. I am confident that he will bring the same principled leadership to our campaign and to the vice presidency."
Tim Walz, a 60-year-old U.S. Army National Guard veteran and former teacher, expressed his honor at joining Kamala Harris on the ticket. Walz declared on X (formerly Twitter), "I'm all in. Vice President Harris is demonstrating the politics of what's possible. It feels a bit like the first day of school." Walz was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from a Republican-leaning district in 2006, where he served for 12 years before becoming governor of Minnesota in 2018.
As governor, Walz has championed a progressive agenda that features free school meals, climate change initiatives, middle-class tax cuts, and expanded paid leave for Minnesota workers. While he has consistently supported women’s reproductive rights, he also demonstrated a more conservative stance during his time in the U.S. House, where he defended agricultural interests and supported gun rights. Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, is now adding a well-regarded Midwestern politician to her ticket. Walz’s home state of Minnesota consistently supports Democrats in presidential elections and is strategically positioned near key battlegrounds like Wisconsin and Michigan.
These states are considered pivotal for determining the outcome of the November 5 election, and Walz is widely recognized for his ability to connect with white, rural voters who have leaned towards Republican Donald Trump in recent years. Harris chose Walz over Josh Shapiro, the popular governor of Pennsylvania, who was also seen as a valuable asset for securing his crucial battleground state.
Harris, 59, took on the role of the Democratic Party’s candidate after President Joe Biden, 81, withdrew from the reelection race last month under party pressure. Since then, she has successfully raised hundreds of millions of dollars and revitalized the campaign against Trump with renewed enthusiasm from her party's base. Harris is scheduled to appear with Walz at an event in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening. In the November election, they will compete against Trump and his running mate JD Vance, a fellow military veteran from the Midwest.
The Impact of George Floyd on Walz's Time in Office
During Walz's time as governor, his administration was notably affected by the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer who was later convicted of murder. The graphic footage of the officer kneeling on Floyd's neck sparked widespread outrage and protests, highlighting deeper issues of racial tension both in the U.S. and internationally.
Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, praised Walz for his response to the Floyd case. He noted that Walz appointed the state's attorney general to lead the prosecution, which resulted in the officer's conviction and a sentence of over 20 years in prison. Sharpton commended Walz for his willingness to listen and act in the interest of justice, expressing confidence that Walz would bring the same principled approach to his role as Kamala Harris' vice president.
In contrast, Trump campaign officials and surrogates sought to portray Walz as an extreme leftist whose values they claim are out of touch with mainstream America. They criticized his management of the violent riots in Minneapolis that followed Floyd's death, with the Trump campaign stating, "It’s no surprise that San Francisco Liberal Kamala Harris wants West Coast wannabe Tim Walz as her running mate – Walz has spent his governorship trying to reshape Minnesota in the image of the Golden State," referring to California, Harris' home state.
The "Weird" Attack
Walz has criticized Trump and Vance as "weird," a term that has gained traction with the Harris campaign, social media, and Democratic activists. In a late July interview, Walz introduced this new line of attack by saying, "These are weird people on the other side: They want to take books away. They want to be in your exam room," referring to issues like book bans and women’s reproductive health consultations.
Walz has also challenged Trump and Vance’s claims of understanding the middle class. In an MSNBC interview, he remarked, "They keep talking about the middle class. A robber baron real estate guy, and a venture capitalist trying to tell us they understand who we are? They don’t know who we are." This approach has resonated with younger voters whom Harris needs to reengage, with David Hogg, co-founder of March for Our Lives, praising Walz as a "great communicator."
Although Walz was relatively unknown nationally before the Harris "veepstakes" heated up, his profile has since risen. A popular former member of Congress with backing from influential figures like ex-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Walz’s national visibility has increased. Despite Trump’s strong support among rural voters, Walz won his 2022 gubernatorial race with 52.27% of the vote, though his opponent still garnered significant support in rural areas.
While Walz has adhered to Democratic Party positions on issues like abortion, same-sex marriage, and the Affordable Care Act, he built a centrist record during his congressional tenure. He supported government aid for farmers, military veterans, and gun rights, earning praise from the NRA before receiving a failing grade for his gun-control stance during his gubernatorial run. Walz’s shift from a centrist congressman to a more progressive governor may reflect voters' demands in major cities like Minneapolis-St. Paul. Despite this, he defends his record, stating, "What a monster. Kids are eating and having full bellies, so they can go learn, and women are making their own healthcare decisions." As governor, Walz mandated face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic, signed a law making marital rape illegal, and managed budget surpluses in Minnesota. His 2022 reelection campaign highlighted endorsements from influential labor unions.
With reporting by Reuters

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