Kamala Harris has chosen her running mate: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Vice President Harris, who became the Democratic candidate for the top job after President Joe Biden stepped down July 21, confirmed her decision Tuesday in a public statement, saying she’s “proud” to have Walz on her ticket and pointing to his legislative achievements as the reason why. “One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle class families run deep,” Harris said in a campaign email. “It’s personal. As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his own.”
She added: “We are going to build a great partnership. We start out as underdogs but I believe together, we can win this election.”
Harris’ supporters appear energized by the decision, showing their excitement for her vice presidential pick on social media as soon as outlets like CNN and the Associated Press confirmed the nod – from crafting memes declaring “childless cat ladies for Harris-Walz” on X, formerly Twitter, and sharing, en masse, a charming photo of Walz holding a pig, to lauding Walz for signing a bill into law that guaranteed free breakfast and lunch for low-income children at eligible Minnesota schools.
Indeed, Walz – who rose to national prominence following an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” during which he referred to Republicans as “weird” and, in doing so, shifted the tone of the POTUS race – has appeared to embody the role of public servant. Following several years in the U.S. National Guard, then working as a history teacher and football coach, the Nebraska native was elected to represent Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District in 2006, beating a six-term Republican incumbent in the process. He was then elected as the state’s governor in 2018, and re-elected in 2022.
During his tenure, he signed several progressive bills into law that benefit women especially, including The Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, a law protecting people seeking or providing abortions in Minnesota from out-of-state attacks, and SF3546, a law granting licensed traditional midwives permission to obtain and administer certain helpful drugs, supplies and devices.
He has also made it publicly known that his daughter, Hope, was conceived via in vitro fertilization, or IVF – protections for which Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance has voted against. “Hope was named Hope for a reason,” Walz told a Huffington Post reporter in February. “Because, married for eight years, no children, wanting children … We got Hope because of this type of stuff.”
As Walz notes on his official site, he has not only demonstrated a desire to help people create the families they want, but has worked to make Minnesota “the best state in the country to raise a family,” too. To that aim, Walz signed a bill last year permitting in-state paid family and medical leave for up to 20 weeks. “We’re ensuring Minnesotans no longer have to make the choice between a paycheck and taking time off to care for a new baby or a sick family member,” Walz said in a statement at the time.
Walz is also an advocate for the LGBTQ community, having signed legislation to protect those seeking gender-affirming health care, and starting his school’s first-ever gay-straight alliance in the 1990s, back when he was still teaching. He supported voting rights through his Democracy for the People Act, which expands language access in the voting process, gives people the option to vote by mail on a permanent absentee ballot list, and allows 16- and 17-year-olds to pre-register to vote. And, he paved the way for a recreational cannabis economy in Minnesota that provides additional opportunities for those once incarcerated for marijuana-related charges, and their families. (Bonus: He established a Beyonce Day in the state, too.)
Walz has additionally demonstrated a rare capacity for change. Once a darling of the National Rifle Association, Walz turned heel and began fighting for more stringent gun-control legislation following the 2018 shooting at Parkland High School in Parkland, Florida. He particularly focused on changing the minds of fellow gun owners. “This is about bringing in responsible gun owners who understand something’s got to be done,” he said at the time.
All of that said, critics have condemned Walz’s handling of the Covid pandemic — particularly for his creation of a hotline to report people who violated social distance rules — and for his response to the 2020 George Floyd protests. Later that year, he signed a police reform bill which bans chokeholds and requires officers to intervene if their colleagues use excessive force. But since police brutality remains a significant problem in the United States, continuing to claim the lives of individuals like Sonya Massey, Walz will need to continually show that he is invested in protecting Black people — especially Black women.
But the party, and its officials, are largely motivated by Walz’s naming. Several Democratic elected officials praised the choice online, including Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar. “Our North Star state Governor has signed universal school meals, paid family and sick leave, marijuana legalization, and protections for reproductive rights into law,” she posted. “Bringing Minnesota nice to the ticket.” Fellow Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York called the decision “excellent,” adding that “together, they will govern effectively, inclusively, and boldly for the American people.”
And former President Barack Obama praised Walz as someone who “believes that government works to serve us. Not just some of us, but all of us.” Obama added, “That’s what makes him an outstanding governor, and that’s what will make him an even better vice president.”
