Kamala Harris Picks Tim Walz as Running Mate in Bid to Become US’ First Black Female President
Democratic candidate and Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, has chosen Tim Walz, the Governor of Minnesota, as her running mate ahead of the November 5th Presidential election, according to Bloomberg.
Harris became the party’s presidential candidate on Monday, August 5, 2024, after President Joe Biden announced his exit from seeking reelection.
Harris, the daughter of immigrants, is seeking to make history as the first Black woman president and has chosen Walz, whose performance as Governor was approved by 91 percent of Democrats, to prevent Donald Trump from returning as President.
Since Biden exited the race and endorsed Harris as his preferred successor, the former Attorney General of California has edged out earlier leads Trump had on the Democrats.
After Biden’s disappointing presidential debate, followed by an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, which some believe improved the former president’s ratings, the Democrats needed a candidate who voters would see as being in charge.
Read: How Trump and Biden Showed Their Worst Sides In A Disappointing Presidential Debate
According to an election poll by Bloomberg, Harris now leads Trump among voters in seven battleground states and has a 1 percent lead over Trump overall.
Why Kamala Harris Chose Tim Walz
It is believed that her choice of Walz, who is 60 years old, is aimed at appealing to more voters across different divides.
Tim Walz, the second-term governor of Minnesota, is a man of diverse experiences. A native of rural Nebraska, Walz served in the Army National Guard, taught on a Native American reservation and in China, and represented Minnesota in the House for six terms.
It is believed that his unique blend of military, educational, and legislative background has shaped his stance on various issues and can appeal to voters across the board.
As Governor, Walz navigated the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder—a Black man killed by a white police officer in May 2020—by calling up the National Guard and passing police reform legislation.
The US election will be held on November 5, and many have predicted a tight race between the two major parties.
