Kamala Harris Picks Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz As Running Mate

On Tuesday, Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Waltz, a veteran and former schoolteacher, as her vice presidential running mate, aiming to boost support among blue-collar, white voters in the Rust Belt.

“As governor, a coach, a teacher and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his,” said Harris in a statement announcing her selection.

“We start out as underdogs. But I believe together, we can win this election,” added Harris.

Waltz, 60, who grew up in a small Nebraska town, has strong connections to communities where Democrats have been losing support for years.

After serving over two decades in the Army National Guard, he won a rural, conservative-leaning district in southern Minnesota in his 2006 House bid, holding the battleground seat for over a decade as a moderate, bipartisan reformer focused on veterans’ issues.

When he first ran for Congress, Waltz received an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association. However, as governor, he evolved with the Democratic Party’s progressive stance and shifted his position on guns.

Following the 2018 Parkland High School shooting, Waltz denounced the NRA in an op-ed and, as governor, signed laws for universal background checks and red-flag bills.

During his first term as governor, Waltz faced criticism for his handling of two major challenges: George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Republicans plan to criticize Waltz’s pandemic response, focusing on his delayed National Guard employment during the Floyd protests and prolonged school closures.

During his second term as governor, Waltz spearheaded a progressive overhaul of Minnesota after Democrats gained full control of the state government in 2023, enacting numerous progressive policies that serve as a model for what Democrats hope to achieve nationally this year.

He signed a bill protecting abortion access, restored voting rights for the formerly incarcerated and funded universal free school meals.

His efforts received praise from former President Barack Obama last May, who urged voters in a tweet to “check out what’s happening in Minnesota.”

In 2024, Waltz shifted his focus to the national party by becoming chair of the Democratic Governors Association, where he is responsible for helping elect and reelect the party’s state executives.

After President Joe Biden withdrew from the race, Waltz quickly emerged as a favored candidate from various party sectors, with hopes that his folksy relatability would appeal to working-class voters and help win back the “Blue Wall” states, similar to Biden’s success in 2020.

During his brief trial period, Waltz, who is relatively unknown nationally, demonstrated strong communication skills on behalf of Harris, according to her allies.

Waltz delivered sharp critiques of former President Donald Trump and vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) that have gone viral in recent weeks.

Notably, Waltz helped Democrats refine their campaign messaging by portraying Republicans as “weird,” a critique now frequently used by the Harris campaign.

Although Harris and Waltz had limited interaction prior to teaming up — overlapping for only two years in Congress in different chambers — they appeared together on the campaign trail, including a visit to a Minnesota abortion clinic in May.