Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate, choosing a plain speaker from the US heartland to help win over rural voters.
Soon after announcing her running mate, Harris appeared with Walz at a rally in Philadelphia, a state seen as critical to their ability to beat rival Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance.
Harris spoke about the “promise” of the US, describing herself as a “daughter of Oakland, California, who was raised by a working mother” and Walz as a “son of the Nebraska plains who grew up working on a farm”.
“It’s the promise of America because only in America is it possible for them together to make it all the way to the White House,” Harris said.
Walz criticised Trump’s policies, including his proposed nationwide abortion ban and referred to Vance’s support for Project 2025, a series of policy proposals by high-profile conservatives.
“Donald Trump — he sees the world differently. He doesn’t know the first thing about service because he’s too busy serving himself,” Walz told the crowd in Philadelphia.
Harris released a statement earlier in the day on X in which she said she shares a “deep level of respect” for Walz.
“We’re going to unify this country and we’re going to win,” Harris wrote.
Trump responded to Harris’ announcement on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying: “This is the most Radical Left duo in American history.”
So, who is Walz and why did Harris choose him as her running mate?
What is Tim Walz’s background?
Walz has been Minnesota’s governor since 2018. The 60-year-old is a US Army National Guard veteran and has worked as a schoolteacher and football coach.
He was elected to a Republican-leaning district in the US House of Representatives in 2006 and served 12 years before becoming governor.
Walz has pushed a progressive agenda including free school meals, goals for tackling climate change, tax cuts for the middle class and expanded paid leave for workers. He has also long advocated for women’s reproductive rights.
However, he has also held some conservative-leaning stances, including defending agricultural interests and backing gun rights. Early in his political career, Walz was endorsed by the National Rifle Association as a Democratic candidate who advocated for gun rights and spoke often about his love of hunting.
Following mass shootings, Walz altered his position on gun ownership and spoke out in favour of a ban on assault weapons. As Minnesota’s governor, he has signed a handful of gun control measures into law, including recent legislation that increases penalties for acquiring a weapon on behalf of someone who is not eligible to own a firearm.
Why Harris chose Walz
Walz is a popular member of Congress who reportedly had the backing of powerful former house speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was instrumental in persuading US President Joe Biden to quit the presidential race late last month.
He is seen as a plain-speaker from the American heartland and the party hopes he will help win over rural, white voters. His ‘Midwestern dad’ appeal has been a focus of media coverage.
While he was relatively unknown across the US, Walz’s recent comments that attacked Trump and Vance as “weird” were picked up by the Harris campaign and other Democrats as a strategy to insult the Republican campaign.
Biden said of Harris’ choice that she had made a “great decision” and called him a “strong, principled and effective leader”.
