This is Kamala Harris' Vice Presidential Candidate

Kamala Harris has made her choice of vice presidential candidate. A pragmatic politician who speaks plainly – and has a large dose of common sense. Minnesota's 60-year-old governor Tim Walz is an increasingly shining star within the Democratic Party.

» Published: August 06 2024

This is Kamala Harris' Vice Presidential Candidate
Photo: Steve Karnowski/AP/TT

Share this article

For a couple of weeks ago, few democrats could identify the governor from Minnesota. But within the span of a few weeks, the fan base has grown – consisting mainly of liberals who support his progressive politics and cheer on his attacks on the Republicans' Donald Trump, according to The New York Times.

Walz was born in a small town in Nebraska and took a social science degree from Chadron State College in the same state.

He has been highly ranked within the American National Guard, where he has served for over 20 years.

Former teacher and coach

Walz is also a former teacher and coach in American football. He entered politics in 2006 and attracted voters to the Democrats' side in traditionally Republican electoral districts in Minnesota.

He spent six terms in the US House of Representatives before being elected governor in 2018. In 2022, he won re-election.

Already in the late 1990s, when Walz worked as a geography teacher and coach, he fought for the rights of LGBTQI individuals – long before it was on the Democrats' political agenda.

Since then, he has driven several progressive legislative proposals in Minnesota, such as free school meals, legalization of marijuana, and stricter gun laws, while strengthening protection for abortion rights.

Viral after statement about Trump

Walz has received sparse attention for his democratic politics, and it was only recently that he got a viral breakthrough.

It was in connection with his comment on Donald Trump and his vice presidential candidate JD Vance when they visited Minnesota that his statement "These guys are just weird" took on a life of its own on the internet. The statement has become an unofficial slogan for Harris' election campaign.

For Republicans, Walz is primarily known for his handling of the riots in Minneapolis after George Floyd's death, which they consider was slow.

Several analysts believe that he will push the Democrats in a more liberal direction. Perhaps too liberal to attract the broad middle?

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Putin Arrives in China for SCO Meeting with Global Leaders
1 MIN READ

Putin Arrives in China for SCO Meeting with Global Leaders

Turkmenistan Cultural Workers Ordered to Lose Weight by National Day
1 MIN READ

Turkmenistan Cultural Workers Ordered to Lose Weight by National Day

Hamas Confirms Death of Gaza Military Chief Mohammed Sinwar
1 MIN READ

Hamas Confirms Death of Gaza Military Chief Mohammed Sinwar

Modi Discusses Ukraine Conflict with Zelenskyj Before Meeting Putin
1 MIN READ

Modi Discusses Ukraine Conflict with Zelenskyj Before Meeting Putin

Finnish Air Force Removes Swastika from Flags
1 MIN READ

Finnish Air Force Removes Swastika from Flags

Norway Faces Severe Impact from Landslides and Rockslides
2 MIN READ

Norway Faces Severe Impact from Landslides and Rockslides

Houthi Prime Minister Killed in Israeli Air Strike in Yemen
1 MIN READ

Houthi Prime Minister Killed in Israeli Air Strike in Yemen

EU Criticizes US Visa Ban on Palestinian Delegates for UN Assembly
2 MIN READ

EU Criticizes US Visa Ban on Palestinian Delegates for UN Assembly

Australia to Relocate Migrants to Nauru Under New Agreement
1 MIN READ

Australia to Relocate Migrants to Nauru Under New Agreement

Half a Million Evacuate Due to Severe Floods in Eastern Pakistan
1 MIN READ

Half a Million Evacuate Due to Severe Floods in Eastern Pakistan

Humanitarian Aid to Northern Gaza at Risk of Being Cut Off
2 MIN READ

Humanitarian Aid to Northern Gaza at Risk of Being Cut Off

Ukrainian Politician Andrij Parubij Shot Dead in Lviv
1 MIN READ

Ukrainian Politician Andrij Parubij Shot Dead in Lviv

Hunger Crisis in Gaza: Malnutrition Claims More Lives
1 MIN READ

Hunger Crisis in Gaza: Malnutrition Claims More Lives

Car Drives into Crowd in Évreux, France: One Dead, Five Injured
1 MIN READ

Car Drives into Crowd in Évreux, France: One Dead, Five Injured

EU Faces Growing Pressure to Allocate Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine
1 MIN READ

EU Faces Growing Pressure to Allocate Frozen Russian Assets to Ukraine

Texas Approves Bill Allowing Lawsuits Over Abortion Pill Distribution
1 MIN READ

Texas Approves Bill Allowing Lawsuits Over Abortion Pill Distribution

Colombian Politician Miguel Uribe Londoño Runs for President After Son's Tragic Death
2 MIN READ

Colombian Politician Miguel Uribe Londoño Runs for President After Son's Tragic Death

Norway Landslide Near Trondheim: Search for Missing Man Continues
3 MIN READ

Norway Landslide Near Trondheim: Search for Missing Man Continues

Court Blocks Trump's Expanded Fast-Track Deportation Plan
2 MIN READ

Court Blocks Trump's Expanded Fast-Track Deportation Plan

EU Divided on Sanctions Against Israel Over Gaza Conflict
3 MIN READ

EU Divided on Sanctions Against Israel Over Gaza Conflict