Tim Walz: Kamala Harris selects the governor of Minnesota to be her vice president

On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota will make their joint appearance as the Democratic Party’s White House ticket. This will mark the beginning of a multi-day tour of swing states that they want to win in November.

In what is anticipated to be a close race, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her choice for vice president, Senator JD Vance, will campaign in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a state that is vital to their chances of defeating Republican opponent Donald Trump and his running partner.

Excerpts from Walz’s speech published by the campaign indicate that he would say at the gathering, “I couldn’t be prouder to be on this ticket, and to help make Kamala Harris the next President of the United States.”

“These same values I learned on the family farm and tried to instill in my students, I took to Congress and the state capital, and now, Vice President Harris and I are running to take them to the White House,” he’s scheduled to remark.

Earlier in the day, Harris made her selection of Walz known. She chose a running partner for the vice presidency who has administrative experience, military service, and a history of winning over rural, white voters who have been drawn to Trump.

“He’s delivered for working families like his own as a governor, coach, teacher, and veteran,” Harris stated in a statement issued by her team.

Before winning two more elections for governor of Minnesota in 2018 and 2022, Walz was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 from a Republican-leaning district. He served in that capacity for 12 years.

He has promoted a progressive platform that includes enhanced paid leave for employees, tax breaks for the middle class, free school lunches, and initiatives to combat climate change.

Vance and Trump criticized the new competition right once, saying it was too liberal.

Trump posted on social media, saying, “This is the most Radical Left duo in American history.”

Following the 2020 death of Black man George Floyd in Minneapolis at the hands of a white police officer, Vance criticized Walz’s handling of the demonstrations, claiming the Republican was not firm enough in quelling the rioters.

“Tim Walz alone isn’t the main issue with the Tim Walz selection. When given the chance, Kamala Harris would grovel before the most extreme members of her party, which is what it says about her, Vance told reporters in Philadelphia.

When picking a presidential candidate, Americans usually concentrate on the candidate at the head of the ticket. However, vice presidential candidates can influence or negatively impact their running mates depending on their history, popularity in their home states, and capacity to win over key groups or independent votes.

Republican strategist Rina Shah said, “She went with her gut on this one and chose the option that won’t alienate young folks.”

Josh Shapiro, the well-liked governor of Pennsylvania, lost to Walz for the second position. Shapiro has been under heavy fire from the left for his support of Israel and his management of undergraduate demonstrations spurred by the Gaza War, particularly from progressive organizations and pro-Palestinian activists.

Shapiro offered his “enthusiastic support” for Harris in a statement prior to the Tuesday night event in his home state, referring to Walz as “an exceptionally strong addition to the ticket.”

A few Trump aides expressed relief that Harris did not select Shapiro due to worries that, should he be selected, he may aid in winning Pennsylvania, a crucial state.

Following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race for reelection last month, Vice President Joe Biden has become the face of the Democratic Party. Harris and Walz aim to capitalize on this momentum. In addition to reshaping the Trump opposition campaign, Harris has raised hundreds of millions of dollars.

The White House stated that before to her announcing her choice of Walz, Harris and Biden had a conversation. The governor of Minnesota was also addressed by the president.

Following their joint appearance in Philadelphia, Walz and Harris have scheduled a multi-city tour that will take them to crucial swing states including as Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada. Similar stops on Vance’s tour are scheduled for Wednesday in Wisconsin and Michigan.