Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is expected to announce her vice president pick Tuesday, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz may be her second-most-likely choice.
Professional oddsmaking companies BetOnline, Oddschecker, Polymarket, and PredictIt all show Walz behind Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as Harris’ most likely pick, The Center Square reported.
Because of his rural Midwestern heritage and military background, Walz, 60, has been touted as a safe choice for vice president for Harris, 59, despite his far-left stances on transgender procedures for children and abortion on demand.
Walz reportedly met Sunday with Harris for an interview, along with Shapiro and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona.
Here are four things to know about him.
1. A Teacher Turned Congressman
Born in Nebraska, Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard after graduating high school. He graduated from Nebraska’s Chadron State College with a social science degree in 1989.
Walz spent a year teaching abroad before returning home to serve in the Army National Guard. He later took a high school teaching and coaching position.
After meeting his future wife, Gwen, Walz moved to Mankato, Minnesota, where both taught at a high school. Walz advised Mankato West High School’s first gay-straight alliance club.
The Walzes have two children, Hope and Gus.
A year after retiring from the National Guard in 2005, Walz won his race for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was reelected five times.
Elected as Minnesota governor in 2018, he won reelection in 2022.
2. Popular With Far-Left House Democrats
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may be rooting for Walz behind the scenes. Pelosi said she “is always especially fond of former House colleagues” when asked about Harris’ choice for a running mate, a source familiar with the matter told The Hill.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., told Minnesota Public Radio that he supports Walz for vice president, saying the Minnesota governor would “speak up” for the working class.
“I had the opportunity to talk to your governor a few days ago, and I am very impressed by him,” Sanders said in that Minnesota-based interview. “I think you have an excellent governor who understands the needs of working families.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., who came under fire in mid-July for calling Israel “a racist state,” pointed to Walz’s track record backing labor unions and working families as a key reason for her support.
“I want somebody who’s really strongly pro-labor and understands labor, because this is a big part of the working-class agenda and making sure that we win working-class votes,” Jayapal said.
“I like the things that he’s been able to do,” she added. “I like that he’s from a rural town; I like that he’s got a military background.
3. His Radical Abortion Stance
In January 2023, Walz signed into law Minnesota legislation that includes no limitations on when a woman may end the life of her unborn baby.
“To Minnesotans, know that your access to reproductive health, and your right to make your own health care decisions, are preserved and protected,” Walz said then of the so-called Protect Reproductive Options Act. “And because of this law, that won’t change with the political winds and the makeup of the Supreme Court.”
The legislation reads: “Every individual has a fundamental right to make autonomous decisions about the individual’s own reproductive health, including the fundamental right to use or refuse reproductive health care.”
“Reproductive health care” is a euphemism for abortion.
4. Supports ‘Gender-Affirming Care’ for Kids
Walz issued an executive order ensuring that Minnesota children may obtain irreversible transgender surgeries and sterilizing hormone treatments, which proponents call “gender-affirming care.” The measures made Minnesota a “trans refuge,” supporters said.
While signing his executive order, Walz held the hand of 12-year-old boy who said he identified as a transgender girl.
Walz’s executive order prevents other states from taking “child protection” action against parents who help their children “transition” to a boy or girl. According to the order, a parent in another state may not take custody action against a parent in Minnesota who is transitioning a child.
“We want every Minnesotan to grow up feeling safe, valued, protected, celebrated, and free to exist as their authentic versions of themselves,” Walz said. “Protecting and supporting access to gender-affirming health care is essential to being a welcoming and supportive state.”
5. Failure to Respond to 2020 George Floyd Riots
When rioters burned and looted the Minnesota cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul following the death of George Floyd, Walz waited days to act.
Floyd died May 25, and the riots began on May 26, resulting in more than $500 million in damages to the Twin Cities, according to the Star Tribune. Despite requests from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, Walz waited until May 28 to deploy the National Guard.
Walz accepted some responsibility for the violence and chaos.
“I, if the issue was the state should’ve moved faster, yeah, that is on me,” Walz said at a press conference.
Walz expressed sympathy for anti-police rioters in a May 29 press conference.
“The very tools that we need to use to get control, to make sure that buildings aren’t burned and the rule of law collapses, are those very institutional tools that have led to that grief and pain,” the governor said.
Editor’s note: This article was corrected to clarify the cause of George Floyd’s death.
