Kamala Harris Picks Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as Running Mate in 2024 Presidential Bid

As a long-time follower of American politics, I must say that the selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as Vice President Kamala Harris‘ running mate for the 2024 presidential bid is nothing short of inspiring. With his background as a former teacher and football coach, Walz brings a unique perspective to the table – one that resonates with everyday Americans.

As a gaming enthusiast sharing some inside scoop, I’m thrilled to announce that Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota is my chosen partner for the 2024 presidential race! Word on the street says it’s official, but you didn’t hear it from me, right?

Prior to the formal announcement by Vice President Harris about X (previously known as Twitter) on a later date, several news outlets including CNN, The Hill, and The Associated Press have reported, according to various sources, early this Tuesday that Governor Walz is the vice president’s chosen candidate.

After Harris amassed sufficient delegate votes during a virtual gathering on Friday, thereby claiming the Democratic presidential nomination, she formally declared her candidacy for the 2024 presidency. This move came shortly after President Joe Biden announced his decision not to seek re-election on July 21, a surprise step taken following several weeks of demands for him to withdraw from the race due to his underwhelming performance against Donald J. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, in a debate.

Joe Biden promptly backed Harris as the Democratic candidate, earning endorsements from notable Democrats such as former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama; Hillary Clinton, who was the Democratic presidential nominee in 2016 and made history by becoming the first woman to run for a major party’s presidency; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Governors Gavin Newsom of California and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan; as well as Hollywood figures like Aaron Sorkin, Barbra Streisand, and George Clooney. In July, Clooney wrote a notable column in The New York Times urging Biden to step down, citing similarities between the president’s recent performance at a fundraiser and his controversial debate appearances.

Harris was mulling over several potential candidates for the vice presidency role if she secured the victory in November. Reports suggest that among those seriously considered in the days before her announcement were Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.

It came to light last week that North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper removed himself from contention for a potential running mate role, primarily because he expressed worries over frequently traveling outside the state.

Over the weekend, it seems Harris was meeting with the top candidates. Shapiro, Walz, and Kelly are being seen as the front-runners by several news outlets such as the Associated Press, New York Times, and Axios.

On Tuesday, she was scheduled to join her running mate at a fundraising event in Philadelphia, marking the start of a campaign trail through several key election states prior to the Democratic National Convention, held in Chicago from August 19th to the 22nd.

60-year-old Walz served for twelve years in the House of Representatives, during which he earned respect and built solid connections with his fellow legislators. Eventually, he became the Minnesota governor in 2018. His description of Trump’s running mate, J.D. Vance, as “odd” was swiftly noticed by Harris and other Democratic figures.

The ex-educator and football mentor has implemented forward-thinking policies in Minnesota, such as universal school meals and setting the stage for achieving 100% clean energy by 2040. He also approved a bill that Taylor Swift fans might admire: House File 1989, which enhances transparency and security when purchasing tickets online for concerts, sports events, and other live entertainment in Minnesota, following the struggles of a local lawmaker and many fans to buy tickets for Swift’s performances.

Despite Trump’s ongoing efforts to win Minnesota, the state has consistently voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in the last two elections (2016 and 2020). As such, it is less of a battleground state compared to others like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Moreover, Bernie Sanders and Shawn Fain, the head of United Auto Workers, have expressed support for Walz.

Democrats are making preparations to select their presidential nominee digitally, well before the convention, in order to meet the August 7th deadline for inclusion on the Ohio ballot. The online voting period concludes on Monday.

At the convention, there will remain a tradition where delegates vote by state, however, this process will serve only as a formal ceremony, without affecting any decisions.

Harris is set to become the first woman of color to lead a significant political party’s ticket, and if victorious, she would make history as the United States’ first female president.

1. Harris’ political campaign has sparked unprecedented enthusiasm among Democrats, evident through viral memes, high-profile virtual events with record attendance, and large rallies such as the one in Atlanta last week that featured Megan Thee Stallion advocating for her. It was recently disclosed that her campaign collected an impressive $310 million in July, surpassing Trump’s fundraising during the same period. This puts Harris’ campaign at the top with the most funds available for any presidential candidate at this stage of the election cycle, according to the Associated Press. Notably, this success comes after some major donors had initially held back on contributing to presidential campaigns following Biden’s debate performance.

On July 15, during the inaugural day of the Republican National Convention held in Milwaukee, Donald Trump unveiled Ohio Senator Vance as his running mate. This decision was made mere two days following an attempted assassination at one of Trump’s rallies in Pennsylvania on July 13.

2024-08-06 16:25

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