KAMALA Harris has officially named Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate and insists he’s the right partner to take down Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
Former teacher Walz said being chosen as the Democrats’ candidate for vice president felt like the first day of school – but Republicans quickly blasted the Harris-Walz ticket and their chance of winning.
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On Tuesday morning, the vice president made her decision via an Instagram post after weeks of chaos within the Democratic Party.
“I am proud to announce that I’ve asked @walzforgovernor to be my running mate,” she wrote.
The presidential nominee praised Walz’s fight for middle-class families, his work as a former teacher, and his commitment to his family.
Harris’ team also sent out a text blast about her new running mate and urged supporters to donate to their cause.
The new VP pick has spoken out about Harris’ decision calling it the “honor of a lifetime.”
“I’m all in. Vice President Harris is showing us the politics of what’s possible. It reminds me a bit of the first day of school. So, let’s get this done, folks! Join us,” he wrote on X.
Walz became Minnesota’s governor in 2019, the first Democrat to represent the state’s 1st Congressional District since 1992.
He has a daughter named Hope and a son named Gus with his wife Gwen Walz.
This comes as…
- Trump’s former adviser told The U.S. Sun Kamala Harris was ‘cold-blooded’ in her VP pick
- Trump’s campaign warns Walz is a ‘West Coast wannabe who’ll unleash hell’
- Dem divide intensified as VP race turned bitter
- Walz could prove to be a security headache if he becomes VP
- Former president Trump and Harris spar over time and venue for future debate
- Harris secures enough delegates to win 2024 presidential nomination
- A new poll shows some voters are afraid Harris is not qualified for the job
The governor beat out other potential VP picks Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly for the job.
Shapiro released a statement to X vowing that the pair has his “enthusiastic support.”
“My work here in Pennsylvania is far from finished — there is a lot more stuff I want to get done for our Commonwealth,” he wrote.
“Over the next 90 days, I look forward to traveling all across the Commonwealth to unite Pennsylvanians behind my friends Kamala Harris and Tim Walz and defeat Donald Trump. See you tonight in Philly.”
Kamala Harris’ full statement on her VP pick
Kamala Harris confirmed her running mate in a text blast to supporters, then shared a long post on Instagram explaining her decision.
“I am proud to announce that I’ve asked @walzforgovernor to be my running mate,” Harris wrote in an Instagram post.
“One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle-class families run deep. It’s personal.
“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. He served as both the football coach and the advisor of the Gay-Straight Alliance.
“I share this background both because it’s impressive in its own right, and because you see in no uncertain terms how it informs his record. 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, and as an avid hunter, he passed a bill requiring universal background checks for gun purchases.
“But what impressed me most about Tim is his deep commitment to his family: Gwen, Gus, and Hope. Doug and I look forward to working with him and Gwen to build an administration that reflects our shared values.
“Whether you are a supporter, a volunteer, a donor, a member of our staff, or your name is on the ticket: you are part of the people-powered campaign that is going to defeat Donald Trump.
“We are going to build a great partnership. We are going to build a great team. We are going to win this election.
“So let’s get to work. Join our campaign at the link in my bio.”
‘EVERY AMERICAN’S NIGHTMARE’
Donald Trump’s campaign quickly blasted the decision, calling Walz “dangerously liberal” in an email to supporters.
Trump didn’t comment on the news directly, but after the VP pick was confirmed, he cryptically wrote “Thank you!” on his social media platform Truth Social.
“It’s no surprise that San Francisco Liberal Kamala Harris wants West Coast wannabe Tim Walz as her running mate,” Trump Campaign Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
“Walz has spent his governorship trying to reshape Minnesota in the image of the Golden State.
The camp slammed Walz for his policies and for “spreading California’s dangerously liberal agenda far and wide.”
“If Walz won’t tell voters the truth, we will: just like Kamala Harris, Tim Walz is a dangerously liberal extremist, and the Harris-Walz California dream is every America’s nightmare,” the campaign slammed.
Trump’s campaign also released a fundraising email claiming Walz will “unleash hell on Earth.”
“Tim Walz would be the worst VP in History,” the email began in bold lettering, per a post on to X.
“Even worse than Dangerously Liberal and Crooked Kamala Harris – He’s that bad.
“He’ll unleash Hell on Earth and open our borders to the worst criminals imaginable.
“He’ll rubber stamp Kamala’s green new scam and light trillions of dollars on fire.
“But the real killer: he’s already pulled in millions in dirty cash to buy the White House.”
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‘MOST LEFT-WING TICKET’
Other politicians gave their scathing reactions to the pick on social media.
“Harris-Walz: most left-wing ticket in American history,” Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sneered on X.
“Minnesota was ground zero for the BLM riots of 2020. Harris egged it on and Walz sat by and let Minneapolis burn.”
Donald Trump’s son, Don Jr. wrote, “Yikes!!!” on X in response to the Harris’ announcement.
Walz sparked online speculation that he had been offered the position on Monday night after multiple black SUVs were seen at his home – despite a spokesman saying this was just his usual security detail.
Harris’ decision comes days after reports claimed she had interviewed six candidates for the role, an anonymous source told The Washington Post.
However, three of these reported meetings took place at her Washington DC home as she specifically reserved one-on-one time with Walz, Shapiro, and Kelly.
The Democratic nominee is expected to introduce her new running mate at a rally on Tuesday night in Philadelphia.
Harris secured enough delegates to win the presidential nomination days after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race on July 21 and endorsed her.
Within 24 hours of her announcing her presidential campaign, a crusade of Democratic officials rallied behind her candidacy.
Harris’ team raised more than $80 million in donations within the first days of her campaign.
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As the race shaped up, Harris’ VP shortlist reportedly boiled down to Shapiro and Walz as top Democrats divided their support between the two governors.
Shapiro drew sharp criticism in recent weeks, notably over his stance on Israel amid the war in Gaza and his handling of ensuing protests.
While several Democrats pointed to Walz as the best candidate, union leaders also threw Kelly’s name into the mix.
With the VP pick process condensed from the usual months-long affair to just a few weeks, the battle had reportedly grown bitter, a strategist told The Hill.
They said that the situation has “created a pressure cooker environment” in the Democratic Party despite huge excitement at being able to “pick rising talent from the bench for the ticket.”
“All opposition research and critique that would normally have time to breathe is being rushed out the door,” they added, noting that the “stakes are high.”
Rumors ran wild as several social media posts seemed to stoke speculation as to who she would choose.
Trump campaign’s full statement on Kamala Harris’ VP pick Tim Walz
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign issued a fiery statement after Democrat Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tom Walz as her running mate.
“It’s no surprise that San Francisco liberal Kamala Harris wants West Coast wannabe Tim Walz as her running-mate — Walz has spent his governorship trying to reshape Minnesota in the image of the Golden State,” the statement from Trump campaign press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reads.
“While Walz pretends to support Americans in the Heartland, when the cameras are off, he believes that rural America is ‘mostly cows and rocks.’
“From proposing his own carbon-free agenda, to suggesting sticker emission standards for gas-powered cars, and embracing policies to allow convicted felons to vote, Walz is obsessed with spreading California’s dangerously liberal agenda far and wide.
“If Walz won’t tell voters the truth, we will: just like Kamala Harris, Tim Walz is a dangerously liberal extremist, and the Harris-Walz California dream is every American’s nightmare.”
‘A GREAT DECISION’
Biden endorsed the Harris-Walz ticket arguing that the VP pick has already been a “strong, principled, and effective leader” as governor of Minnesota.
“The first major decision a party nominee makes is their choice for Vice President. And Kamala Harris has made a great decision in choosing Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate,” he posted to X.
He, as Harris and others have, praised Walz’s work in government, the Army National Guard, and dedication to family.
“The Harris-Walz ticket will be a powerful voice for working people and America’s great middle class,” he continued.
“They will be the strongest defenders of our personal freedoms and our democracy.
“And they will ensure that America continues to lead the world and play its role as the indispensable nation.”
‘READY ON DAY ONE’
Former President Barack Obama also released a statement about Harris’ announcement praising her pick, calling Walz an “outstanding governor” and claiming he has the experience to be a great vice president.
“Like Vice President Harris, Governor @Tim_Walz believes that government works to serve us,” he wrote in his statement, posted to X.
“Not just some of us, but all of us. That’s what makes him an outstanding governor, and that’s what will make him an even better vice president.
“Michelle and I couldn’t be happier for Tim and Gwen, their family, and our country.”
KELLY’S CONFUSION
Senator Kelly sparked confusion when he posted and later deleted a cryptic message on X.
The post suggested Kelly was no longer an option in the running for the ticket.
Who is Governor Tim Walz?
Kamala Harris has chosen Governor Tim Walz as her running mate after weeks of chaos for the Democratic Pary. Here’s what to know about her pick.
Democratic politician Walz became the 41st governor of Minnesota in 2019.
The 60-year-old is a retired teacher and former non-commissioned officer in the US Army.
Walz graduated from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2001 and Chadron State College in 1989.
He has been married to his wife and fellow teacher Gwen Walz since 1994.
The pair share two children named Hope and Gus, who were conceived through IVF and fertility treatments, per the Star Tribune.
Hope graduated from a Montana college, while Gus attends public high school in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska, in 1964, and grew up in Valentine.
He is known for being punctual and graduated from Butte High School in Butte, Nebraska, in 1982.
In 1989, he taught English in China and learned to speak Mandarin.
Walz quit drinking alcohol after he got a DWI in Nebraska in 1995.
Troopers pulled him over for going 96 mph in a 55 mph zone, and a breathalyzer test found his blood alcohol concentration was .128, according to court records.
After he was arrested, he struck a plea deal to reduce the charges, which was a topic of conversation when he first ran for Congress in 2006.
When state troopers drive Walz in the state SUV as part of his governorship, he sits in the front passenger seat because he gets carsick in the back seats, per the Star Tribune.
When Walz was 19, his father died of lung cancer.
His mother, Darlene Rose, still lives in Nebraska and sometimes visits her son at the Capitol.
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“My background is a bit different than most politicians,” the deleted post read.
“I spent my life in the Navy and at NASA, where the mission always comes first. Now, my mission is serving Arizonans.”
SHAPIRO’S LEAKED AD
Governor Shapiro was also swept up in chaos as a leaked video from last week appeared to show him as Harris’ official running mate.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker posted the surprising message, however, it was unclear if the video was an accidental reveal or an encouragement to Harris.
“I can’t think of a better partner than our Governor Josh Shapiro,” Parker said in the video, but the post’s caption had sparked more interest.
“Proud to be standing with so many leaders for @kamalaharris for President and @joshshapiropa for VP!” the caption said.
Joe Biden’s full statement on Kamala Harris’ vice preisdent pick, Tim Walz
“The first major decision a party nominee makes is their choice for Vice President. And Kamala Harris has made a great decision in choosing Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate,” he wrote on X.
“I’ve known Tim Walz for nearly two decades, first during his time in Congress and as Governor. A husband and father, he’s been a school teacher and a high school football coach.
“He served for 24 years in the Army National Guard and became the highest ranking enlisted soldier to ever serve in Congress. As Governor, he’s been a strong, principled, and effective leader.
“The Harris-Walz ticket will be a powerful voice for working people and America’s great middle class. They will be the strongest defenders of our personal freedoms and our democracy. And they will ensure that America continues to lead the world and play its role as the indispensable nation.
“It’s time for all Democrats—and indeed all Americans—committed to freedom, democracy, and American leadership in the world to rally behind the Harris-Walz ticket.
“Every generation of Americans faces a moment where they are asked to defend American democracy. That moment is now.”
BIDEN STEPS DOWN
President Biden upended the Democratic Party when he shockingly announced the end of his reelection campaign, which reportedly caught White House officials by surprise.
Biden admitted to stepping aside for “the best interest” of the Democratic Party.
Democrats on Capitol Hill feared the party’s future was in jeopardy with Biden’s approval rating tanking after the debate.
JD VANCE VS TIM WALZ
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Senator JD Vance both had full lives before becoming politicians.
Walz and Vance both served in the military. Walz was in the army national guard for 24 years, and JD Vance was in the US Marine Corps for four years.
The veterans also both have a shared love for Diet Mountain Dew.
However, Walz spent most of his early adulthood as a high school teacher, and taught for one year in China after graduating college.
In 1999 he was the faculty advisor for the first ever Gay Straight Alliance at the high school he worked for.
Walz didn’t foray into politics until 2004 when he volunteered for John Kerry’s presidential campaign.
In 2006, he ran for Congress and beat incumbent Republican Gil Gutknecht. He served until 2019, when he was elected Minnesota’s governor.
Vance, meanwhile, raised himself from a tumultuous childhood in Ohio and went to university after serving in the Marines.
After graduating from Ohio State University, he went on to attend Yale Law School, where he started writing his bestselling memoir Hillbilly Elegy.
Vance briefly worked in politics before moving to the technology sector in California, where he met venture capitalist Peter Thiel.
In 2016, he published his book and became a household name in popular culture.
Vance, who was once staunchly anti-Donald Trump, ran for Senate on a pro-MAGA platform in 2022, and was elected with Trump’s blessing.
Biden’s withdrawal came after top Dems and more than 50 national security officials urged him to drop out.
In the weeks since the June 27 presidential debate, reports began to surface that Democratic leaders were holding closed-door meetings with the 81-year-old president and, at times, without him.
Rattled Democratic leaders privately told Biden on several occasions that he needed to step aside and let another candidate take over, according to The New York Times.
These meetings reportedly included heavyweight Democrats like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
What’s next as Kamala Harris picks running mate
Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign is preparing for a whirlwind week after she officially named Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate – just weeks after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
Here’s what’s next for the duo as they hit the campaign trail together:
Both Harris and Walz will appear for their first campaign rally together in Pennsylvania, on Tuesday, August 6.
It will be the first of seven swing states Harris is expected to travel to over five days – five of which she and Biden flipped blue in 2020.
These states include:
- Pennsylvania
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- Georgia
- Arizona
- North Carolina
- Nevada
The stretch is set to be one of the heaviest weeks of campaign-related travel this election cycle.
After her week-long tour around the country, both Harris and her running mate will hit the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, from August 19 to 22.
It is here that Harris is expected to officially accept the party’s nomination and outline exactly where she and her VP candidate stand on a plethora of issues affecting the American people.
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10 Days that Changed America
AN attempted assassination of a former US president, the standing down of a current president, and a political speech by a former wrestler. Senior News reporter Anthony Blair looks back on a crazy 10 days in American politics.
- Saturday, July 13 – Donald Trump is shot during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The Republican frontrunner is hit in the ear but stands up and pumps his fist to the crowd. Shooter Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, is shot dead but the Secret Service is slammed for suspected security blunders. Ex-fire chief Corey Comperatore is killed protecting his family.
- Sunday, July 14 – President Joe Biden calls on Americans to unite and “cool down” political rhetoric in the wake of Trump’s shooting. The Democrat had faced growing calls since his disastrous performance in June’s CNN debate. Shocking video reveals how close Trump came to being killed after turning his head at the last minute.
- Monday, July 15 – The Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Trump is formally nominated as the Republican candidate. An emotional-looking Trump makes his first appearance since surviving the shooting wearing a large ear bandage. It quickly becomes a must-have fashion item at the RNC. Ohio Senator JD Vance is named as Trump’s running mate. Previously anti-Trump, Vance at just 39 is an inexperienced choice, but seen as having a connection with ordinary Americans. In an interview, Biden admits it was a “mistake” to talk about putting Trump in “the bullseye” days before the assassination attempt.
- Tuesday, July 16 – The FBI warns of more potential violence in the wake of Trump’s shooting. Intelligence claims Iran had a separate plot to assassinate Trump, but there is no proven link to Crooks. Biden returns to the campaign trail for the first time since the assassination attempt and insists he isn’t stepping down.
- Wednesday, July 17 – Joe Biden tests positive for Covid, just days after saying he would drop out of the presidential race if he was diagnosed with a medical condition. It intensifies the calls for him to step aside with Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom floated as potential replacements. At the RNC, JD Vance makes his first speech since being selected as Trump’s VP pick, to the delight of the MAGA crowd.
- Thursday, July 18 – Donald Trump addresses the RNC, his first speech since surviving an attempted assassination. He appears slower and more subdued than usual but gives the longest convention acceptance speech in US history. Just before he goes on, former wrestler Hulk Hogan rips his shirt off and tells cheering crowds “Trumpomania” will sweep America. Former First Lady Melania, who has barely been seen on the campaign trail, makes an appearance but does not speak. Barack Obama joins calls for Biden to step aside.
- Friday, July 19 – President Biden appears to consider resigning, as a source says he is in a “contemplative stage” while isolating with Covid. Video emerges showing Biden appearing to lean into the wrong woman after mistaking her for his wife Jill. Meanwhile, the world’s biggest tech outage sparks travel chaos for Republicans leaving the RNC in Milwaukee.
- Saturday, July 20 – Donald Trump holds his first campaign rally since the shooting in Butler. He appears in Michigan without his ear bandage. His former doctor Ronny Jackson describes his injuries. He appears in his first interview alongside his running mate Vance. Senior Democrat Nancy Pelosi speaks for the first time since being linked to growing calls for Biden to resign. Meanwhile, Biden’s reelection campaign continues to insist he is running, as a spokesperson slams Trump’s rally remarks as showing he is “focused only on himself.”
- Sunday, July 21 – Joe Biden announces he isn’t running in November in a shock letter, just hours after insisting he was staying in the race. He is the first incumbent to step down in their first term since 1968. Biden endorses Kamala Harris for president as senior Dems through their support behind the Vice President. The news appears to throw the Republicans off their stride. Biden vows to continue his term until November’s election.
- Monday, July 22 – Kamala Harris raises a record $81 million in 24 hours as she secures the Democratic candidacy. She also inherits some $91 million in leftover campaign funds from Biden. Harris gives her first speech since Biden stepped out, and speaks to the president on the phone, although he doesn’t appear in person. Under-pressure Secret Service chief Kimberly Cheatle appears on Capitol Hill and faces increasing calls to resign over the shooting of Trump. She admits the Secret Service “failed” on July 13 and resigns the following day.
