Vice President Kamala Harris announced on Tuesday that she has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the upcoming November presidential election.
The decision follows a rigorous selection process, during which Harris also considered Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
The 60-year-old Walz, who currently serves as the Chair of the Democratic Governors Association, is expected to bolster Harris’s campaign as she prepares to challenge former President Donald Trump.
Walz’s political career includes a twelve-year tenure in Congress before his election as Minnesota governor in 2018.
Known for championing progressive policies, Walz has been a staunch advocate for protecting abortion rights, legalizing recreational marijuana, and enacting gun control measures to curb shootings.
His experience and policy positions are seen as assets that could appeal to a wide range of voters.
Born and raised in Nebraska, Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1981 after graduating from high school. He later attended Chadron State College, earning a degree in social science education in 1989.
Walz entered politics in 2006, winning a seat in Congress, where he served five terms and held the position of ranking member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee before transitioning to the governorship.
