Who is Tim Walz? Meet Kamala Harris' pick for vice president and running mate
2-minute read
Vice President Kamala Harris officially picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate on Tuesday, Paste BN reported, adding a key piece to her campaign for the presidency.
Here are some things you need to know about Walz as he begins his journey on the campaign trail alongside Harris.
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Tim Walz is originally from Nebraska
Walz, 60, is originally from a small rural town in Nebraska where he attended public schools. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Army National Guard. He graduated from Chadron State College in Nebraska with a social science degree in 1989.
Walz spent a year teaching abroad before returning home to serve full time in the Army National Guard. He eventually accepted a teaching and coaching position at a local high school, where he met his wife.
They moved to Mankato, Minnesota in 1996 and worked at Mankato West High School. There, Walz taught social studies and coached the football team. He retired from the Army National Guard in 2005 after 24 years of service.
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Tim Walz was elected governor of Minnesota in 2018
Walz won his first election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 and was reelected for another five terms. He was first elected governor of Minnesota in 2018 and won reelection in 2022.
Gov. Tim Walz supports universal free school meals
Per his official bio, his accomplishments as governor include "providing universal free school meals for students, protecting reproductive freedom, strengthening voting rights, laying the groundwork to get Minnesota to 100% clean energy by 2040, cutting taxes for the middle class, and expanding paid leave for Minnesota workers."
Gov. Tim Walz a strong Biden supporter
As reported by Paste BN, he has been an "ardent supporter of President Joe Biden" during his reelection campaign.
Will Tim Walz appeal to rural America?
Walz could be an appealing choice for moderate democrats and independents, especially those in rural states. Former senator and fellow Democrat Heidi Heitkamp said in the New York Times last week, "When you look at Tim Walz, what you have is someone with a lived experience that is so comparable to so many of the people in rural America who are willing to maybe reconsider just blindly voting for the Republican Party candidate."