Who is Tim Walz? What we know about Kamala Harris’ running mate
Democrat Tim Walz became Minnesota’s governor in 2019 after six terms in the House.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s selection as the Democratic candidate for vice president has injected energy and excitement into the 2024 presidential campaign, the chair of Oklahoma’s Democratic Party said Tuesday.
Earlier in the day, the party’s nominee for president, Kamala Harris, announced she had chosen Walz as her running mate. The pair, who made their first joint appearance in Philadelphia, are scheduled to campaign in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada in the coming days.
Harris praised Walz’s work for middle-class families. In a separate announcement, President Joe Biden called the Democratic ticket “a powerful voice for working people.”
“They will be the strongest defenders of our personal freedoms and our democracy. And they will ensure that America continues to lead the world and play its role as the indispensable nation,” Biden wrote in a posting on social media. “Every generation of Americans faces a moment where they are asked to defend American democracy. That moment is now.”
Speaking shortly after the announcement, Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair Alicia Andrews said she was thrilled with the choice of Walz as the vice presidential candidate.
“I’ve been very impressed with some of the things he’s (Walz) been able to get through as the governor of Minnesota,” Andrews said. “I’m excited and energized.”
Andrews said Walz’s selection could prove popular with Oklahomans because of his connection to both agriculture and the military. “These are both things that speak to Oklahomans.”
She said the Harris-Walz ticket also could help improve voter turnout in Oklahoma, which has been low for several years, and bring more voters into contests such as the race between Democrat Madison Horn and incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Stephanie Bice.
“I think this ticket is going to talk about issues that are important to younger voters,” she said.
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Oklahoma has lowest rate of voter participation in the country — could Tim Walz impact turnout?
An analysis by the U.S. Elections Project concluded that about 55% of the state’s voting-eligible population participated in the last general election — placing Oklahoma last in the country.
In addition, records from the Oklahoma State Election Board show that only about 50% of Oklahoma’s registered voters cast ballots in the 2022 midterm election, a figure that represents only about 40% of the voting-eligible population in the state.
Andrews said the Democratic ticket can help counter what many voters thought was a repeat of the 2020 election: two old guys running for office.
“I think this will affect voter turnout in Oklahoma, in that there was some apathy towards this election. Folks were looking at is as the same choices we had last time. That changed with President Biden deciding not to pursue reelection.”
The new slate of candidates, she said, has increased the party’s mobilization and motivation. Harris’ choice of Walz means she picked a candidate “who was a teacher, is a veteran, has rural roots, is a gun owner.”
More: How Tim Walz became Kamala Harris’s running mate – and how he compares with JD Vance
“I think all those things appeal to Oklahomans,” she said. “And get folks who were (previously) hopeless and apathetic ready to turn out.”
The Harris-Walz ticket, she said, also will be addressing issues younger voters are interested in, she said, and could be key to getting them out to vote.
“I absolutely believe this will change voter turnout,” she said.
Andrews isn’t alone in that belief.
Oklahoma Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt said she, too, believes that Walz’s addition to the ticket will help bring more voters to the polls.
“Oklahomans will be excited to have a choice of leadership who solve real problems,” she said.
Kirt said Walz has made historic investments in public education, improving public safety and protecting working-class families.
“His track record will appeal to young voters,” she said.
Gov. Tim Walz is ‘a safe pick’
Labor groups also praised the announcement. The head of the American Federal of State, County and Municipal Employees said Walz “personifies what public service is all about.”
“Doing for others and never leaving anyone behind. He learned these values while serving in the National Guard, and he lived them as a teacher and football coach in Mankato, Minnesota,” union President Lee Saunders said. “He has always been the first to lend a helping hand in his community, and today, this is how he governs — empowering worker voices and defending those who have made public service a career.”
While Walz’ rural background and military service could help the Democrats sway uncommitted voters, Rose State College Associate Dean James Davenport said the addition of Walz will play well in several swing states.
“It’s a safe pick,” he said. “A Midwestern governor from an area that will be crucial to whoever wins the nomination. I think he brings an approach to the campaign that will resonate in that area.”
Though Walz isn’t going to scare off undecided moderates, Davenport said, Walz probably won’t change how most Oklahomans will vote for president. The state, Davenport said, mostly likely will stay red.
“I think Oklahoma is gonna go for Trump,” Davenport said. “It wouldn’t matter who Kamala Harris picked. That would not change things.”
Vice presidential candidates, he said, are almost always picked for one of two reasons: to reach a specific constituency or to bring in money to the campaign.
“The constituency they are trying to reach with Walz is not rural Southern voters,” he said. “It’s those Midwestern voters in the states that could determine the outcome.”
States like Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas aren’t the ones the Democrats’ campaign is trying to reach, Davenport said.
But Walz probably will be more attractive to voters in general when compared to the Republicans’ choice of JD Vance.
“There is some momentum on the Harris side at this point in time, but it’s too early to tell right now,” he said.
Source link : https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/government/2024/08/07/who-is-tim-walz-oklahoma-elections-2024-demcrats/74688775007/
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Publish date : 2024-08-07 00:03:00
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