Vice President Kamala Harris has picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, as her running mate, according to NBC News and The Associated Press.
Walz, the governor of swing-state Minnesota, has become a powerful figure in the party thanks to his great success in pushing a variety of democratic initiatives, including expanding abortion rights, legalizing marijuana and gun reform.
The 60-year-old’s success in Minnesota has been viewed by Democratic operatives as an example of how Harris’ campaign could model her message on crucial issues in the 2024 election.
In 2022, Walz defied a “red wave” and won reelection in a heated race that also gave Minnesota Democrats control over both chambers for the first time in eight years.
“This isn’t about jamming down Democratic priorities. These are proven things that improve people’s lives,” Gov. Walz said in an interview according to NBC News, adding that democratic policy goals so far “are about not allowing our people to be demonized” because of “Republicans wanting to go to war on social issues.”
Here are five things you should know about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Walz also oversaw the 2020 George Floyd protests, where he mobilized the National Guard to control protests and later filed civil rights charges against the Minneapolis Police Department.
“The investigation will review MPD’s policies, procedures and practices over the last 10 years to determine if the department has utilized systemic discriminatory practices towards people of color,” Walz said in a statement.
Among his most recent accomplishments, in 2023 Walz spearheaded a bill that gave free lunch and breakfast to all Minnesota students, regardless of income requirements set by a federal program. He also signed a bill allowing driver’s licenses for all, regardless of immigration status.
“If there’s one thing I hope folks across this country recognize and take away from what we’re doing here in Minnesota, is it’s amazing what you can accomplish when you stop complaining about corporations going ‘woke’ and start giving a damn about real people and real lives,” Walz said.
Before becoming governor, Walz was a high school teacher who later ran for office and served in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019. He then held the highest position for a Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee.
Walz also served for more than two decades in the Army National Guard, where he reached the Command Sergeant Major rank and was awarded the Army Commendation and Achievement medals.
Since 1995, Walz has been married to Gwen Whipple, who he met while they were teachers. They have two children together, Hope and Gus.
