Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is set to be announced as Kamala Harris’ running mate, according to sources close to the process who spoke with CNN and AP. As the Democratic presidential nominee, Harris has grown increasingly comfortable with Walz’s candidacy in the final days of the selection process. A source within the Harris campaign described him as a “staff favorite.
Harris, who last month replaced President Joe Biden as her party’s champion in the race for the presidency, is expected to formally announce her running mate at a rally in Philadelphia. The incumbent vice president dropped out of the race, partly due to concerns from party heavyweights and donors about his ability to win the election following a disastrous debate against former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee.
Both CNN and AP sources indicate that Governor Walz will bolster the Democratic ticket with his background as a military veteran and strong support for the party agenda, such as protection of abortion rights. The Trump campaign responded to the news by sending a fundraising email to supporters, describing the governor as “Even worse than Dangerously Liberal and Crooked Kamala Harris.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently made headlines on social media in the US after he dismissed President Trump and his running mate, Ohio Governor J.D. Vance, as “just weird,” during an interview on MSNBC. Meanwhile, supporters of Governor Walz gathered to celebrate in front of his residence.
Walz served in the Army National Guard for over two decades and worked as an educator and a coach before going into politics. In 2006, he unseated six-term Republican incumbent Congressman Gil Gutknecht in the race for Minnesota’s 1st congressional district. He was elected governor in 2016 and re-elected for a second term in 2022.