Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is Harris's running mate in the U.S. presidential election.
The 60-year-old Walz, often referred to as a politician who connects with voters of all educational backgrounds through his straightforward language, is also known for his liberal stances. A former National Guardsman, teacher, and football coach, Walz supports liberal positions on abortion and cannabis, and advocates for stricter gun buyer checks.
Walz himself wrote on the online service X that he was deeply honored to join forces with Harris. "I'm all in," he added, "It reminds me a bit of the first day of school." Harris stated that it was "great" to have the Governor of Minnesota on their team. "As a governor, coach, teacher, and veteran, he has successfully fought for working families like his own."
Previously, Harris secured 99% of the votes in her party's electronic vote for her official nomination as the presidential candidate. The 59-year-old former prosecutor from the West Coast was the only candidate on the ballot for the five-day electronic vote among nearly 4,000 delegates.
US President Joe Biden described Harris and Walz as "a strong voice for working people and America's great middle class." The first major decision a presidential candidate makes, the 81-year-old explained on X, is choosing a running mate. "And Kamala Harris has made a great choice."
Even former US President Barack Obama praised the designated vice president Walz as "an outstanding governor and an even better vice president."
On the other hand, Trump's campaign team labeled Walz as "a dangerous left-wing extremist." "If Walz isn't telling voters the truth, we will: Just like Kamala Harris, Tim Walz is a dangerous left-wing extremist," explained Trump's campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
While Minnesota, Walz's home state in the Midwest, is not among the key swing states, the governor could help Harris reach a broader spectrum of voters in neighboring swing states like Wisconsin and Michigan, potentially helping her win these states.
Walz recently gained attention for labeling the right-wing, Republican presidential candidate Trump and his running mate J.D. Vance as "weird." He is credited with coining this term, which has since been widely adopted, including by Harris.
Other potential vice-presidential candidates for Harris included the Governor of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, and the Senator from Arizona, Mark Kelly. Shapiro described Walz as "an exceptionally strong complement" to the presidential candidate Harris.
Harris planned to kick off her campaign with Walz on Tuesday evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Following this, they will embark on a multi-day tour through key swing states.
On Wednesday, they are scheduled to visit Wisconsin and Michigan, with Arizona and Nevada following on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Originally, appearances in the hotly contested southern states of North Carolina and Georgia were also planned, but these have been postponed due to Tropical Storm "Debby." The official nomination of the duo will be celebrated at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in mid-August.
Harris is reportedly enjoying rising approval ratings, according to several polls: A national survey by Morning Consult places her at 48 percent, four points ahead of Trump. However, a new CBS News poll also shows that her approval among black voters is lower than Biden's was when he defeated Trump in 2020. Some leading Democrats are therefore cautioning against complacency.
Walz, in his support for liberal positions, advocates for the decriminalization or legalization of cannabis. During their campaign, Harris and Walz emphasized their shared commitment to issues like Social Justice and drug policy reforms.
