Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate in order to bolster the Democratic ticket in Midwestern states.
Following an introduction from Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Harris and Walz made their first joint appearance at a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening, marking the beginning of their battleground state tour.
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Here’s the Latest:
Walz’s National Ticket Role & Kelly Leading Democratic Governors
The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) announced that Kansas Governor Laura Kelly will assume Walz’s position as chairman of the organization.
Walz stepped down from his role as chairman when selected by Harris as her vice presidential running mate, but he continues to serve as the Governor of Minnesota.
Kelly, currently in her second term as Governor of Kansas, has been DGA’s vice chair since late 2022. She praised Walz for his fundraising efforts and support of Democratic gubernatorial candidates during his time leading the DGA.
Sen. JD Vance Campaigning with Wife
The GOP vice presidential nominee, Sen. JD Vance, embarked on a campaign tour with his wife, Usha.
Vance is visiting the battleground states of Michigan and Wisconsin on the same day as his Democratic opponents. This Midwest swing comes after Harris officially announced Walz as her running mate and campaigned with him in Philadelphia.
Both campaigns had plans to visit North Carolina, but they were canceled due to inclement weather.
Harris-Walz vs. Trump-Vance: Expanded Battle for Rust Belt & Sun Belt
The upcoming presidential campaign will focus on the Rust Belt and the Sun Belt over a 90-day period.
With Harris choosing a Midwestern governor as her running mate, the Democratic ticket aims to secure key states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Additionally, Harris and former President Donald Trump will compete for states like Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and North Carolina.
Underappreciated Start for Walz
Walz had two significant moments that propelled his campaign forward.
The first was a visit to a Planned Parenthood clinic with the vice president earlier this year, highlighting their shared values. The second was when Walz appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and used the term “weird” to describe Trump and Vance, gaining viral attention.
This moment caught the attention of the Harris campaign, leading to the term “weird” being used by Harris and other vice-presidential contenders as a critical descriptor.
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