- Harris selects Tim Walz as his running mate.
Democrat Kamala Harris has reportedly chosen Tim Walz as her running mate for the U.S. presidential election in November, according to media reports by CNN and AP, citing unnamed sources. The official announcement was still pending.
The 59-year-old Harris plans to challenge the Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, in the November election. Trump, 78, has selected Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate, despite Vance's rocky start in recent weeks.
Harris appears to be banking on Walz to bolster the Democrats in the Midwest. The 60-year-old Walz has been the governor of Minnesota since 2019 and previously served many years as a representative in the House of Representatives. Before his political career, he was a teacher. A father of two, Walz has a low national profile but is known for his down-to-earth and direct approach to political messaging.
A challenging role
The role of vice president is no easy task: the vice president must promote and represent the president's policies while setting their own agenda without overshadowing the boss, avoid mistakes without fading into the background. Harris herself struggled in the role as Vice President to Joe Biden, remaining relatively low-key. She made history as the first woman and first Black person to hold the position.
In a dramatic turn in July, she became the Democratic nominee after Biden withdrew from the race due to pressure over his age and questions about his mental fitness. Biden immediately endorsed Harris as his replacement, and the party quickly rallied behind her. She was officially nominated as the party's presidential candidate in an online vote.
The duo will make their first joint appearance
From August 19 to 22, Democrats will gather for their national convention in Chicago. Harris' official nomination was initially scheduled to take place there but was expedited and conducted digitally for bureaucratic reasons. The Chicago gathering is expected to be used to celebrate Harris and her new running mate with much fanfare and to build momentum for the rest of the campaign.
Before the convention, Harris and Walz plan to embark on a whistle-stop campaign tour through the seven most contested states: Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. These "swing states" are crucial as their outcomes are not predetermined by tradition. The duo's first joint appearance is scheduled for Tuesday evening (local time) in Philadelphia.
Harris believes Walz's experience in the Midwest will be beneficial during the election, given his governorship of Minnesota and extensive time in the House of Representatives. Walz's role as vice president will require promotion of Harris' policies while maintaining his own agenda without overshadowing his boss, a task he may find challenging, considering Harris' struggles in a similar position under Joe Biden.
