Kamala Harris, the Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate, chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate on Tuesday, drawing heightened attention to his life story and tenure in public service.
At 60, Walz is a former member of the U.S. Army National Guard and has experience as a teacher, recently emerging as a prominent supporter of Harris. He hails from a small town in Nebraska and previously worked as a football coach and union member in a Minnesota high school before entering politics. In recent weeks, he has criticized former President Trump and his running mate JD Vance as “weird,” a remark that has gained traction in the Harris campaign.
Walz, who previously represented a Republican-leaning congressional district, has a notable following among rural, white voters, yet he has also promoted progressive initiatives during his governorship, including free school meals and extended paid leave for workers. Though Minnesota is a staunchly Democratic state, its proximity to Wisconsin and Michigan—key competition areas—adds significance to his candidacy.
MINNESOTA GOV TIM WALZ, UP FOR HARRIS VP, FACES CRITICISM FOR ‘REMARKABLE LACK OF LEADERSHIP’ DURING COVID AND RIOTS
VP Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. (Montinique Monroe/ Jim Vondruska)
The Harris team aims to leverage Walz’s presence on the ticket to enhance their chances in the upper Midwest. He currently serves as the chairman of the Democratic Governor’s Association.
In recent weeks, Walz has garnered significantly more national attention compared to his prior political career, being one of the earliest Democrats to label Republicans as “weird” in a comment that seems to be gaining popularity during the 2024 campaign.
“These are weird people on the other side; they want to take books away, they want to be in your exam room, that’s what it comes down to,” he stated in an MSNBC interview last month. “Don’t sugarcoat it; these are weird ideas.”
Nevertheless, Walz has faced backlash regarding his management of COVID-19 and the unrest in Minneapolis in 2020, as previously reported by Fox News Digital.
“[H]e’s been a disaster for Minnesota and is by far the most partisan governor that I can remember,” stated Minnesota GOP Chairman David Hann in a Fox News Digital interview last week. “Going back to 2020, he did nothing to quell the riots in Minneapolis. I believe he was concerned about alienating his ‘progressive’ support base, which backed the riots. Kamala Harris was fundraising for the rioters.
HARRIS’ TOP VP CANDIDATES FACE SIGNIFICANT FLAWS THAT COULD EXCLUDE THEM FROM CONSIDERATION
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz addresses the media following a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on July 03, 2024, in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Critics have also pointed out Walz’s decision to mandate indoor masking during the pandemic, as well as setting up a hotline for reporting COVID-19 violations, as FOX 9 Minneapolis reported during that period.
He has also faced backlash for stating that socialism can be described as “neighborliness” during a discussion with a group of Democrats.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Never hesitate to embrace our progressive principles,” he remarked on a “White Dudes for Harris” call Monday night. “What is termed socialism by some is simply a spirit of neighborliness.”
Stay informed with the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton, along with The Associated Press and Reuters, contributed to this report
