Washington, D.C., August 6, 2024 – VICE President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the 2024 presidential election.
The selection, delivered to Walz via a video call on Tuesday, marks the rise of the former teacher and Army National Guard veteran to a central role in the Democratic Party’s effort to defeat Donald Trump.
Walz’s selection concludes one of the fastest vice-presidential searches in modern history. Emerging from a shortlist that included Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, Walz’s rapid ascent from relative obscurity to a leading figure in the party’s critique of Trump and the MAGA agenda has been notable.
Harris conducted in-person interviews with Walz, Shapiro, and Kelly on Sunday. Despite having little prior relationship with Walz, Harris found a strong connection with him during their final meeting at her residence in the Naval Observatory. According to a source close to the process, CNN reported that Harris was impressed by Walz’s authenticity and the warm chemistry between them.
In just two weeks, Walz transformed from a third-tier candidate to a final contender, thanks to broad support from both progressive and moderate factions within the Democratic Party.
Walz’s credentials include a second term as Minnesota governor and a 12-year tenure in Congress, where he represented a conservative-leaning rural district. His background as an educator and his leadership of the Democratic Governors Association further highlight his diverse experience.
The choice of Walz underscores Harris’s strategy to prioritize the “blue wall” states of the Midwest in the path to victory. Although Minnesota is slightly outside this sphere, Walz’s evolution into a progressive populist has made him a key voice in the Democratic effort against Trump. His recent remarks, particularly his labeling of Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance as “weird dudes,” have resonated with the Democratic base and frustrated opponents.
In March, Walz accompanied Harris on a historic visit to a clinic that performs abortions, an experience that reportedly had a significant impact on their relationship. This, combined with his energetic campaign support in 2022, solidified his position as Harris’s running mate.
The Trump campaign has already begun crafting a narrative around Harris’s choice. Trump campaign press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Harris of “bending the knee to the anti-semitic, anti-Israel left” and criticized Walz as being “dangerously liberal.”
