Kamala Harris has confirmed her selection of Minnesota’s governor, Tim Walz, as her running mate via an Instagram post.
“I am proud to announce that I’ve asked @walzforgovernor to be my running mate,” Harris said. “One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle-class families run deep. It’s personal.”
She went on to say: He grew up in a small town in Nebraska, spending summers working on his family’s farm. His father died of cancer when he was 19, and his family relied on Social Security survivor benefit checks to make ends meet. At 17, he enlisted in the National Guard, serving for 24 years. He used his GI Bill benefits to go to college, and become a teacher. He served as both the football coach and the advisor of the Gay-Straight Alliance.
I share this background both because it’s impressive in its own right, and because you see in no uncertain terms how it informs his record. He worked with Republicans to pass infrastructure investments. He cut taxes for working families. He passed a law to provide paid family and medical leave to Minnesotan families.
He made Minnesota the first state in the country to pass a law providing constitutional abortion protections after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, and as an avid hunter, he passed a bill requiring universal background checks for gun purchases.
But what impressed me most about Tim is his deep commitment to his family: Gwen, Gus and Hope. Doug and I look forward to working with him and Gwen to build an administration that reflects our shared values.
Whether you are a supporter, a volunteer, a donor, a member of our staff or your name is on the ticket: you are part of the people-powered campaign that is going to defeat Donald Trump.
We are going to build a great partnership. We are going to build a great team. We are going to win this election.