Politics
Kamala Harris selects Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate
The current vice president chose Walz over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro who outperformed Trump in the key battleground state
August 6, 2024 9:19am
Updated: August 6, 2024 9:19am
Vice President Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate as she heads toward an election battle this November against former President Donald Trump, according to widespread news reports.
The Minnesota governor, 60, was widely considered an unlikely option for Harris who was also considering Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
Walz’s profile rose after he gained popularity for calling Trump and his vice presidential running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, as “weird,” which quickly became a rallying cry for Democrats.
Walz was also seen as a safer choice for Harris thanks since his progressive views were not as likely to alienate the Democratic Party’s left wing base.
Shapiro received criticism for his pro-Israel position and support for Tel-Aviv in the Israel-Hamas war, while both he and Kelly drew fire from union leaders for their pro-business positions.
Biden won Minnesota in 2020 by 7 points, and no Republican has won the presidential race there in more than 50 years. Trump and Vance have prioritized campaigning in that state and others in the Midwest and Rust Belt.
