Kamala Harris will introduce her running mate at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday. He is Minnesota’s 60-year-old governor, Tim Walz. This is no surprise – his name has been floating around in the US media for weeks.
Who is Tim Walz?
He was born in rural Nebraska. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. National Guard. He retired in 2005 with the rank of master sergeant. He spent a year teaching English and American history in China through a Harvard University program. He speaks Chinese. After returning home, he taught geography and coached sports.
He has been married to Gwen for 30 years. They have two children. He is a Lutheran.
His political career began in 2006, when he ran for the House of Representatives from Minnesota. He was elected from a district that had previously been held by Republicans. Commentators point out that he already has experience winning in Republican territory. He was re-elected in the next five elections. In 2018, he won the election for governor of Minnesota. He is currently serving his second term in that role.
Criteria of choice
According to CBS News, Kamala Harris is expected to choose her vice presidential candidate based on the same traits that Joe Biden considered four years ago, a choice Harris called “the best possible decision he made”. It was supposed to be someone who is experienced enough and ready to take office immediately. The media emphasizes that Harris’ choice fully shares her vision of America in which “everyone has an equal chance.”
He was not a household name until then. He gained recognition through rumors of being chosen as a vice presidential candidate, and statements about Republicans:
“These people are just weird.”
And:
“We’re not afraid of strange people. We’re a little scared, but we’re not afraid.”
Walz was soon accused by Republicans of trying to turn Minnesota into a second California, Kamala Harris’ home state, which is known for its strong Democratic support. He has even been sued by local Republican activists during the pandemic over mask mandates and mandatory vaccinations for public officials.
Walz’s Views
As governor, he has pursued policies consistent with a progressive (in the American sense) worldview. Free meals in schools, free housing, combating climate change, tax breaks for the middle class, and extending paid leave for workers are just some of his policies.
Under his administration, Minnesota legalized recreational marijuana. While in Congress, he was an outspoken supporter of gun rights. In the past, he received funding from pro-gun organizations for his campaigns. That all changed with the 2018 Parkland shooting. Since then, Walz has come out as an advocate for more gun control.
On LGBTQ rights, he fully supports anti-discrimination laws, same-sex marriage, and adoption. In 2023, he signed a bill that banned conversion therapy in Minnesota.
His activities caught the attention of Barack Obama:
“If you need a reminder that choices have consequences, look at what’s happening in Minnesota.”
Planned Parenthood Man
He is a staunch supporter of abortion rights. In Minnesota, abortion is legal on demand at any point during pregnancy. In 2023, he even signed a document that protects Minnesota’s abortion law from potential federal changes.
That same year, he also issued an executive order aimed at facilitating so-called “abortion tourism” to Minnesota and protecting the visitors themselves.
During the March 2022 election campaign, he visited an abortion clinic with Kamala Harris. Walz’s entourage suggests that this meeting could have had a huge impact on the Democratic candidate’s decision 2.5 years later. A CNN insider admits:
“The chemistry was really important to Harris and it really worked for both of them.”
Tim Walz has a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood, one of the most popular American nonprofits dedicated to reproductive rights and sex education. By comparison, the pro-life organization National Right to Life Committee gave him a solid zero.
Will it help win the election?
Former republican activist Matthew Dowd said:
“Walz is an incredible fit with the voters that Democrats need. Progressives can win if they are aligned with voters’ everyday values. And Walz is that candidate.”
Democrats need voters in states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. They need to focus on rural and small-town regions – that was the district Walz represented in Congress for 12 years. Experts say it is essential to focus on everyday problems. Expanding healthcare, protecting reproductive rights, expanding social security – these are the things that Democrats say Tim Walz is famous for. It will also be necessary to motivate young people.
