Harris picks Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as VP in 2024 election
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Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Photos: Jim Watson and Chris Kleponis/AFP via Getty Images
Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate in the 2024 election, the campaign announced on Tuesday.
Why it matters: Walz, a popular two-term governor in a Midwestern state, could boost Harris' appeal among rural voters, particularly in the "blue wall" states that were key to President Biden's 2020 victory.
- Walz, a Nebraska native, is likely to lean into his rural roots to try to win back the white working-class voters who have drifted away from the Democratic Party in recent years.
- "Together, Vice President Harris and Governor Walz will fight for a future that strengthens our democracy, protects reproductive freedom, and ensures every person has the opportunity to not just get by, but to get ahead," the campaign said in a statement.
The big picture: Walz, a military veteran and former public school teacher, served in the House for 12 years, representing a rural district in southern Minnesota. He was elected governor in 2018 and won re-election in 2022.
- Walz ascended to the top of Harris' list of VP contenders in recent days, becoming an outspoken surrogate for the campaign.
- Dozens of members of Congress advocated publicly and privately for their former House colleague to be picked.
- He went viral for his use of the word "weird" to describe former President Trump and his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance.
What they're saying: "One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle class families run deep," Harris said in a statement.
- "It's personal. As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he's delivered for working families like his own. We are going to build a great partnership. We start out as underdogs but I believe together, we can win this election."
Between the lines: Walz's rhetoric was likely one of the factors that appealed to Harris as she made her VP pick.
- A former high school teacher and football coach, Walz will likely try to appeal to everyday Americans who feel left out of the political discourse as he campaigns for Harris.
Zoom in: As governor, Walz implemented several progressive policies, including signing into law legislation that codified the right to abortion and made gun laws stricter in the state.
What to watch: Walz faced questions over how long it took him to send in the National Guard to stop the rioting, looting and arson in the Twin Cities for three nights following George Floyd's murder, Axios' Jacob Knutson writes.
- His handling of the pandemic may also come under renewed scrutiny. One of the largest pandemic fraud cases in the country occurred in Minnesota.
- Republicans may try to seize on his handling of both as they try to make their case against him.
What's next: Harris and Walz will make their first joint campaign appearance on Tuesday in Philadelphia.
Go deeper: What Harris' VP choice will tell us about her vision of victory
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
Axios' April Rubin contributed to this report.
