UNITED States (US) Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, has officially picked Minnesota Governor, Tim Walz, as her running mate to help her challenge former President, Donald Trump, and and his running mate, Senator J.D. Vance, in the November election.
Harris chose the progressive policy champion and a plain speaker from America’s heartland to help win over rural, white voters.
In a text message to supporters, the Democratic presidential candidate announced that she had chosen Walz as her running mate, saying: “I am proud to announce that I’ve asked @Tim
Walz to be my running mate.
“As a governor, a coach, a teacher and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his. It’s great to have him on the team. Now let’s get to work. Join us.”
Walz is a great pick for so many reasons. He was a school teacher, he comes across as relatable, he’s fought for women’s rights in his state and he’s fought for education with free college.
According to Reuters, Walz, a 60-year-old US Army National Guard veteran and former teacher, was elected to a Republican-leaning district in the House of Representatives in 2006 and served 12 years before being elected governor of Minnesota in 2018
As governor, Walz has pushed a progressive agenda that include free school meals, goals for tackling climate change, tax cuts for the middle class and expanded paid leave for Minnesota workers
He has long advocated for women’s reproductive rights, but also displayed a conservative bent, while representing a rural district in the US House, defending agricultural interests and backing gun rights
Harris, daughter of immigrants from Jamaica and India, is adding a popular Midwestern politician whose home state votes reliably for Democrats in presidential elections, but is close to Wisconsin and Michigan, two crucial battlegrounds
The Harris campaign hopes Walz’s extensive National Guard career, coupled with a successful run as a high school football coach and his Dad joke videos would attract such voters who are not yet dedicated to a second Trump term in the White House.
