Presumptive Democratic presidential candidate and current U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz — an outspoken Ukraine supporter — as her running mate for the U.S. presidential elections this fall.
Harris’s selection of the 60-year-old midwestern to join her ticket closes what has been a frantic few weeks of vetting that traditionally takes months after U.S. President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
“One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle class families run deep,” Harris said in her official announcement on Instagram. “What impressed me most about Tim is his deep commitment to his family.”
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, Walz has been a vocal advocate for Ukraine in its fight against Russia, signing legislation barring state agencies from doing business with Russian and Belarusian companies. His state is also home to weapons manufacturers that supply arms critical for Ukraine’s defense.
Walz met virtually with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in April of 2023 for a conversation organized by the National Governors Association, the same group that hosted Zelensky in Utah following the NATO Summit in July.
“It was an honor to hear from President Zelensky firsthand and offer him our unwavering support,” Walz said in a statement following the April meeting. “Minnesota is a proud home to many Ukrainian families, and we will continue to welcome and support Ukrainian refugees in our state.”
When the German Marshal Fund visited Minnesota as a part of their ‘Whistlestops for Ukraine’ tour rallying support for Ukraine in the country’s center, Walz was there.
In February, the Minnesota governor established an agricultural partnership between Minnesota and Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv Oblast during a meeting with Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian Ambassador.
“Once we drive the Russians out, we will have some cooperation,” Walz said, discussing the agricultural partnership. “It’s a really important showing of friendship and a real important showing of ties.”
In addition to being a an agricultural state, Minnesota hosts facilities of two major defense companies.
A facility of aerospace and defense company Northrop Grumman has helped produce drones and ammunition for the war-torn country. British multinational aerospace, defense and information security company BAE Systems’s facility in the state has also helped produce howitzer parts provided to Ukraine.
Jonathan Katz, a national security expert at the Brookings Institute, said what is arguably more notable than the weapons production is Walz’s welcoming of Ukrainian refugees to Minnesota.
Given the passionate hostility toward U.S. support of Ukraine displayed by Walz’s future disputant, JD Vance, any pick by Harris would have satisfied advocates for Ukraine, comparatively.
John Herbst, the former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, said selecting Walz was a mistake, not necessarily for Ukraine but for Harris’s hopes of reaching moderate voters. As both Harris and Donald Trump need to reach moderate voters, Herbst finds it perplexing they both opted for non-moderate running mates.
While Herbst thinks Harris and Walz can still defeat Trump, it is a bit harder without a direct moderate tie, he said. With the Walz selection, Herbst still expects Harris to carry out similar policies toward Ukraine as President Biden, possibly more aggressive.
Katz, the national security expert at Brookings who tends to agree with Herbst on most all things Ukraine, disagrees. Between Walz’s time serving on the Armed Services Committee in Congress to being trained on heavy artillery himself, Katz thinks Walz is not only the right pick for Harris but also for Ukraine.
Due to his time on the committee, he understands what weapons allies need and how to navigate that foreign policy on the Hill, Katz said.
Despite opting for the candidate deemed a “liberal darling” in recent days, Katz thinks Walz will still be able to reach into the center and attract moderate voters in swing states, pointing to his availability to succeed in rural and conservative Minnesota districts.
Walz, a former Army National Guardsman and high school teacher, gained attention in recent weeks for beginning the trend of calling Trump “weird.” From abortion protection and gun restrictions to free school meals, Walz has delivered progressive policies for Minnesota.
Doug Klain, a policy analyst in Washington for Razom for Ukraine, said Walz biggest asset to the Harris ticket is domestic, with his ability to bridge the urban-rural divide.
“As a veteran he’s uniquely positioned to speak credibly to Americans on the necessity of American involvement in Europe,” Klain said. “Governor Walz has a strong track record on Ukraine and he’s uniquely well-positioned thanks to his background to be a serious advocate of helping Ukraine win.”
Harris and Walz, who has been the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, will appear for their first time together Tuesday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a frequent stop for both parties seeking the swing state of Pennsylvania in November.
They will appear at Temple University, the same place Trump rallied in June. The newly linked pair will continue their swing-state travels by visiting Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. They will then appear together again at the Democratic National Convention beginning on Aug. 19 in Chicago where they are expected to formally accept their delegate’s votes.
The de facto host of the DNC will be Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who was also in contention to join Harris’s ticket. Walz now has a chance to continue introducing himself to the national stage, as a Reuters/Ipsos poll released just days before Harris selected Walz showed he was the candidate Americans knew least.
Walz, who won re-election in 2022 and previously spent 12 years in Congress, ultimately emerged from a rapidly compiled group of a dozen Democrats largely representing swing states.
Governors Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, and Andy Beshear of Kentucky were amongst the final contenders along with Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, and Arizona Senator, Mark Kelly.
Herbst questions why Harris didn’t select Kelly or Shapiro, who would’ve brought moderate voters and a swing state along with them.
https://kyivindependent.com/harris-vp-pick-governor-tim-walz-good-news-for-ukraine
“John Herbst, the former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, said selecting Walz was a mistake, not necessarily for Ukraine but for Harris’s hopes of reaching moderate voters.”
Herbst has it right. She should have picked Kelly.
I agree. Harris had an opportunity to get to the middle and she blew it. So now the populous has a choice far left or far right. IMO both suck.
LOL. Neither Harris nor Walz are anywhere close to being “far left”.
From my perspective, now the populous has a choice: Democracy or fascism.
Omar loves Walz. Do you consider her far left?
Manchin also loves Walz. Do you consider him “far left”?
“Bring normality back”: Joe Manchin and other moderates praise Harris’ selection of Tim Walz
https://www.salon.com/2024/08/06/bring-normality-back-joe-manchin-and-other-moderates-praise-harris-selection-of-tim-walz/
Manchin ls a fence rider. He will be off the fence soon when the attack on Walz heats up.
I think Larry you and I have different definitions of far left. She is as far left as you can get.
Is Kamala Harris as “far left” as AOC? As Ilhan Omar? As Rashida Tlaib?
With Tlaib you’re moving left from Democrats to “Democratic Socialists”. And if you continue moving left from Democratic Socialists you get to Socialists, Marxists, Communists, and Anarchists. You can go *way* further left than a liberal Democrat.
You can say the same about republicans. If it’s the Proud Boysor MAGA is indifferent to me. They both suck. It’s a shame you wont see the same in your party
“You can say the same about republicans.”
Except I was replying to your comment about Kamala Harris. And I think it’s clear that Kamala Harris is not “as far left as you can get” even *within* the Democratic party, much less considering what’s further to the left than the Democratic party.
“If it’s the Proud Boys or MAGA is indifferent to me. They both suck.”
Agreed – but I don’t lump them in with decent Republicans.
Putin loves her type
The candidates to chose from, all appeared worthless too
True. Kelly has his own Chinese associated past though. Putin loves all of the democrat candidates.
putler didn’t work to get trumpkov elected because he likes trumpkov.
putler did it because he hates America, and trumpkov is weak and stupid, and that’s good for russia.
He might be a good choice for Ukrainians, but they don’t get to vote. Time will tell if he’s the right choice or not, that will be up to the US public.
The ones in Philly and Minnesota do though!
“Once we drive the Russians out, we will have some cooperation,” Walz said, discussing the agricultural partnership. “It’s a really important showing of friendship and a real important showing of ties.”
I wonder who said that? Could it have been tovarishchi trumpkov or VanZkov?
Well funnily enough no.
On his platform “Truth” (my quotation marks) Social, Trumpkov said :
“TIM WALZ WILL UNLEASH HELL ON EARTH! He’s already pulling in MILLIONS to WIPE MAGA OUT,” said a fundraising message from Donald Trump shortly after the announcement.”
Waltz does indeed look like a decent pick from a Ukrainian standpoint.
How long have you been a Neanderthal where ever you reside? You use the MAGA term because you’ve been conditioned by the western world media.
l bet when Vlad was taking over Crimea, you ignored Obama’s/Biden’s inaction, because of your politics. Only reason you support Ukraine now ls because of your love for your political far left feelings and the current American administration.
I was quoting Trumpkov’s own piss-stained post, halfwit.
you’re a bias half tard
Run away and have a wank to a picture of your favourite putler-rimmer.
You’re not even an American and yet you’re fond of American far left liberals.
You really are a Neanderthal though. Iran, Putin’s friend, attempts to assassinate Trump and you love lt.
You’re a confused lost soul, constantly changing sides depending on your politics and Trump
“The U.S. Justice Department charged Asif Merchant, 46, a Pakistani man with alleged ties to the Iranian government with plotting to carry out political assassinations, according to an indictment revealed on Tuesday”‘
Merchant didn’t “attempt to assassinate Trump”. He was plotting to. And the plot didn’t get very far.
Also, it wasn’t just trumpkov – other possible targets included government officials from both sides of the aisle.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/pakistani-national-charged-alleged-plot-assassinate-donald-trump/story?id=112617075
Do you know the definition of attempt?
Certainly. The legal definition is to actually try to commit a crime and have the ability to do so. This means more than just thinking about doing a criminal act or planning it without overt action. It also requires the opportunity and ability.
Thomas Crooks actually *attempted* to assassinate trumpkov. Asif Merchant was only in the beginning of the planning stage.
I suggest you go and read the comments on this article before opening your stupid mouth.
Concur 100%. Obama was a Putin lacky
The Minnesota National Guard leaders have exposed Walz for his time ln service. So now it looks like not only ls he an experimental vaccine supporter for children, he also lied about his service record and quit upon learning of Iraq deployment
It wasn’t experimental. All the FDA-approved vaccines went through phase 1, phase 2, and phase 3 trials. (That includes the ones approved under an Emergency Use Authorization.)
(And it just so happens that I *did* volunteer for a vaccine trial over 20 years ago, so I’m well aware of the difference between an experimental vaccine and one that’s been FDA approved.)
Half truths. lf they are Emergency the are experimental.
You’re wrong. EUA does not mean experimental.
https://www.kwqc.com/2022/02/02/fact-check-no-covid-19-vaccines-are-not-experimental/
Walz, quit his unit when it started preparing for mobilization to Iraq ln 2005.
Walz then claimed he needed to retire to run for Congress but a retired sergeant major came forward and said, he could have sought permission to run while remaining in service.
Tim Walz submitted his retirement paperwork before anyone even knew his unit was being deployed, after 24 years of military service. No phony “bone spurs” on him!
https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1820545311703769169
Vote Trump, CNBC Kramer said, if you want your paycheck
Dude, Kramer is pretty much wrong on everything (much like yourself and your silly ramblings). Vote for Trump to save Billionaire’s from paying their share. All our paychecks could go up if Billionaires paid a fraction of their wealth. Musk only cares about money and power and does not want to lose either. The wealth gap in USA in insane and only one party keeps giving the rich a break, they don’t even need.
true, that’s why they have him on CNBC
Tim Walz is the highest ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in Congress.
His qualifications were misleading.
Walz was poorly vetted. He should drop out and be replaced by Kelly.
Correct both should, but they won’t.