Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.
In a text message Tuesday morning, Harris said she was “pleased to share” the news with supporters, CNN reports.
“Tim is a battle-tested leader who has an incredible track record of getting things done for Minnesota families. I know that he will bring that same principled leadership to our campaign, and to the office of the vice president,” Harris said in her message.
In choosing Walz, she is turning to a Midwestern governor, military veteran and union supporter who helped enact an ambitious Democrat agenda for his state, including sweeping protections for abortion rights and generous aid to families.
Harris hopes to shore up her campaign’s standing across the upper Midwest, a critical region in presidential politics that often serves as a buffer for Democrats seeking the White House. The party remains haunted by Republican Donald Trump’s wins in Michigan and Wisconsin in 2016. Trump lost those states in 2020 but has zeroed in on them as he aims to return to the presidency this year and is expanding his focus to Minnesota.
Walz, 60, is joining Harris during one of the most turbulent periods in modern American politics, promising an unpredictable campaign ahead. Republicans have rallied around Trump after his attempted assassination in July.
Just weeks later, President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign, forcing Harris to unify Democrats and consider potential running mates during an exceedingly compressed time frame.
Follow the MoneyCentral Nigeria channel on WhatsApp: Click here!
