Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the upcoming November presidential election
Harris will go head-to-head against Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump.
The 60-year-old Walz, considered a dark horse contender, was chosen over other prominent candidates such as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, who were initially leading the discussions.
Walz’s profile rose significantly in the past week following a viral interview in which he criticized some Republicans as “weird,” a stance that has since been adopted by national Democrats. His liberal credentials and lack of controversy compared to other contenders made him a safer choice for Harris. Shapiro and Kelly faced backlash from certain left-wing factions due to their responses to pro-Palestinian protests after the Israel-Hamas war, which drew criticism from union leaders.
Walz’s Midwestern roots add to his appeal, especially as Trump has targeted Minnesota in his campaign efforts. Although Biden won Minnesota by seven points in 2020 and no Republican has secured the state in a presidential race for over 50 years, Trump and his running mate JD Vance have intensified their campaigning in the state.
