(Scypre.com) – Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, has officially named Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the 2024 election, facing off against former President Donald Trump. The announcement, confirmed by Fox News Digital, comes after weeks of speculation since Harris succeeded President Biden as the party’s nominee.
Governor Walz, 60, a former congressman, is in his second term as Minnesota’s governor. His selection wasn’t unexpected, as his name had been a prominent contender. Minnesota, traditionally a Democratic stronghold in presidential elections, has become a target for the Trump campaign this cycle.
Harris took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday to make the announcement: “I am proud to announce that I’ve asked @Tim_Walz to be my running mate. As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his.” She added, “It’s great to have him on the team. Now let’s get to work.”
Harris praised Walz’s commitment to middle-class families, detailing his personal and professional background: “He grew up in a small town in Nebraska, spending summers working on his family’s farm. His father died of cancer when he was 19, and his family relied on Social Security survivor benefit checks to make ends meet. At 17, he enlisted in the National Guard, serving for 24 years. He used his GI Bill benefits to go to college and become a teacher.”
Harris also highlighted Walz’s achievements as governor: “He worked with Republicans to pass infrastructure investments. He cut taxes for working families. He passed a law to provide paid family and medical leave to Minnesotan families. He made Minnesota the first state in the country to pass a law providing constitutional abortion protections after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. As an avid hunter, he passed a bill requiring universal background checks for gun purchases.”
Additionally, Harris emphasized Walz’s deep commitment to his family and expressed her excitement about their future collaboration: “We are going to build a great partnership. We are going to build a great team. We are going to win this election.”
Walz’s addition to the ticket is expected to bolster Harris’s appeal in Minnesota and neighboring battleground states Wisconsin and Michigan. As the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, Walz has played a significant role in record-breaking fundraising efforts, which could be advantageous for the Harris campaign.
Walz has a storied background, including military service, teaching, and a successful political career. Raised in rural Nebraska, he enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1981 and attended Chadron State College, graduating in 1989 with a degree in social science education. He taught in China and Nebraska before moving to Minnesota to teach geography at Mankato West High School. Walz served in the National Guard until 2005, retiring as a command sergeant major after a deployment to Italy for Operation Enduring Freedom.
Elected to the House in 2006, Walz represented Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District for six terms. He was elected governor in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Walz learned of his selection as Harris’s running mate while at home with his family, and he shared the news by sending donuts to his office staff and thanking them for their hard work.
The announcement follows the Democratic National Committee’s formal nomination of Harris as the party’s presidential candidate after she secured the majority of pledged delegates. This nomination process began shortly after President Biden ended his re-election campaign and endorsed Harris, leading to a wave of endorsements from Democratic leaders.
Biden’s decision came after a challenging debate performance against Trump, raising concerns about his ability to serve another term. His endorsement of Harris quickly solidified her position as the Democratic nominee, paving the way for the selection of Walz as her running mate.