According to reports, Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate in the 2024 presidential election.
“VP Harris has selected MN gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate,” CNN anchor Jim Acosta said.
CNN: VP Harris has selected MN gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 6, 2024
“Vice President Kamala Harris has made a decision on her running mate, with four people close to the process saying Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota is her choice,” CNN wrote.
Kamala Harris picks Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, multiple sources say. He has been a leading driver of Democrats' attacks on Trump https://t.co/nszNxdnrcP pic.twitter.com/zeHzuFkWy8
— CNN International (@cnni) August 6, 2024
More from CNN:
The selection caps the Midwestern Democrat’s short but swift ascent from a relative unknown to a leading driver of the party’s attacks on Donald Trump and the MAGA agenda.
Harris had not formally called Walz to offer him the position, a source familiar with process told CNN.
A former educator, Walz is currently in his second term as Minnesota governor and chairs the Democratic Governors Association. He previously served 12 years in Congress, representing a conservative-leaning rural district that, both before and after his tenure, has been mostly dominated by Republicans.
In the time leading up to his selection as Harris’ running mate, Walz had first been an outspoken defender of Joe Biden following his disastrous debate performance as calls for the president to end his reelection bid escalated. When Biden did drop out, Walz endorsed Harris the next day and has since emerged as a reliable, energetic and cutting advocate for the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Picking Walz also underscores the Harris campaign’s focus on a path to victory that puts a premium on the “blue wall” states of the Midwest. Minnesota is slightly outside that sphere, but Walz, once a high school football coach, has evolved during his time in office into something of a progressive populist folk hero – the exact kind of pugilistic voice that Democrats taking on Trump are keen to highlight.
The Associated Press also reported that Harris has chosen the Minnesota governor as her vice presidential pick.
BREAKING: Kamala Harris picks Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as running mate as she looks to boost Democratic ticket in Midwest, AP sources say.
Follow AP's live updates. https://t.co/Mmt5qQLPGM— The Associated Press (@AP) August 6, 2024
From The Associated Press:
Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, looking to strengthen the Democratic ticket in Midwestern states, AP sources say.
She will introduce Walz at a rally Tuesday evening in Philadelphia.
Harris was the only candidate eligible to receive votes after no other candidate qualified by a deadline last week. She officially claimed the nomination Monday night when the DNC released final results.
Several black SUVs rolled out of Tim Walz’s residence Monday evening, sparking speculation he would be Harris’ running mate.
White House reporter Tyler Pager said a Walz spokesperson said it was his Minnesota detail, and the vehicles belong to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.
WATCH:
A spokesperson for Walz’s confirms this is this is his Minnesota detail and the vehicles belong to the MN Department of Public Safety. https://t.co/vTU2Oj1L9o
— Tyler Pager (@tylerpager) August 5, 2024
Some have called Harris-Walz to be the most left-wing ticket in American history.
“Harris-Walz: most left-wing ticket in American history. Minnesota was ground zero for the BLM riots of 2020. Harris egged it on and Walz sat by and let Minneapolis burn,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis commented.
Harris-Walz: most left-wing ticket in American history.
Minnesota was ground zero for the BLM riots of 2020. Harris egged it on and Walz sat by and let Minneapolis burn.
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) August 6, 2024