Kamala Harris, the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee, announced her running mate on Tuesday: Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota. The choice caught many by surprise due to Walz’s seeming lack of strategic appeal, hailing from a Democrat stronghold. Moreover, he is widely viewed as less moderate than Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who was also a top contender.
“I am proud to announce that I’ve asked [Gov. Walz] to be my running mate,” she posted Tuesday morning. As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his.”
Walz responded that campaigning with Harris would be “the honor of a lifetime.”
“Vice President Harris is showing us the politics of what’s possible,” he continued. “It reminds me a bit of the first day of school.”
Shapiro, the second finalist on Kamala’s shortlist, praised Walz as “an exceptionally strong addition to the ticket who will help Kamala move our country forward.”
The Pennsylvania governor was seen as a strong candidate because of his popularity in a pivotal swing state widely regarded as crucial to both parties’ paths to victory. Minnesota, by contrast, has not voted Republican in a presidential election since 1972. Notably, it was the only state to support Walter Mondale during Ronald Reagan’s landslide victory in 1984. This long-standing Democratic streak makes Minnesota the state with the longest continuous support for the Democratic Party.
“Picking Walz is a massive gift to the Republicans,” Ben Shapiro rejoiced. “He’s a radical Leftist from a non-swing state with a long history of insane statements, who presided over the burning down of his state in 2020.”
“It’s all fun and games until you wake up 10,000 votes shy in Pennsylvania,” agreed a Republican Party strategist.
Kamala fans, however, appeared more favorable to the governor. “Kamala Harris has done a remarkable job of consolidating the Democratic Party’s base of women and voters of color since President Biden dropped out of the race just over two weeks ago,” praised Democratic Party advisor Howard Wolfson. “With her announcement on Tuesday that Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota is her running mate, Ms. Harris has chosen a Midwest governor whose biography should give him an important opportunity to reach out to the male voters Democrats are struggling to reach.”
Walz is slated to make his debut with Kamala on Tuesday night in Philadelphia, kicking off a week-long swing states tour.
This is a developing story. Refresh for updates.
