Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate in the 2024 presidential election.
On Monday, it was reported that the race was narrowed down to Walz or Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, but many on the left had worried about his time volunteering with the Israeli Defense Forces.
CNN first reported the final decision on Tuesday morning.
"Vice President Kamala Harris has made a decision for her running mate, with four people close to the process saying Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota is her choice," CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins posted on X just before 9 a.m. EST. Vice President Kamala Harris has made a decision for her running mate, with four people close to the process saying Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota is her choice, per @jeffzeleny, @jamiegangel, @JohnKingCNN and @mj_lee.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 6, 2024
The 60-year-old governor previously had a low national profile but went viral after declaring that Republicans are "weird," which quickly became the theme of the Democratic Party's campaign.
The decision was praised by both the more progressive and liberal wings of the Democratic Party.
“Vice President Harris made an excellent decision in Gov. Walz as her running mate,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez posted on X in response to the news. “Together, they will govern effectively, inclusively, and boldly for the American people. They won’t back down under tight odds, either – from healthcare to school lunch.” Vice President Harris made an excellent decision in Gov. Walz as her running mate.
Together, they will govern effectively, inclusively, and boldly for the American people.
They won’t back down under tight odds, either - from healthcare to school lunch.
Let’s do this 💪🏽 https://t.co/9vttVTC39Z
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) August 6, 2024
Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett wrote on X that Walz is a “solid, decent former colleague with good humor, a former teacher and veteran, who represented a Minnesota district usually represented by the GOP.” A solid, decent former colleague with good humor, a former teacher and veteran, who represented a Minnesota district usually represented by the GOP. During his dozen years in the House, Tim Walz became the top House Veterans Affairs Committee Democrat who helped me deliver for…
— Lloyd Doggett (@RepLloydDoggett) August 6, 2024
“You can’t not get along with no-nonsense Tim,” Doggett continued. “As Governor, he offers a straight-talking, compassionate leader delivering the progress we need.”
The Hill noted, "Adding to Walz’s appeal is the fact that he hails from a Midwestern state that Trump has increasingly set his sights on flipping. Though Biden won Minnesota in 2020 by 7 points, and no Republican has won the presidential race there in more than 50 years, Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance (R), have stepped up their efforts to campaign in the state."
Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitty responded to Harris' decision to choose Walz with a scathing statement: “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.”
“From proposing his own carbon-free agenda, to suggesting stricter emission standards for gas-powered cars, and embracing policies to allow convicted felons to vote, Walz is obsessed with spreading California’s dangerously liberal agenda far and wide,” Leavitty added. “If Walz won’t tell voters the truth, we will: just like Kamala Harris, Tim Walz is a dangerously liberal extremist, and the Harris-Walz California dream is every American’s nightmare.”
Harris and Walz will begin campaigning together immediately, starting in Pennsylvania on Tuesday evening.
