By: Theodore Tong

On August 6, 2024, Kamala Harris was officially named the Democratic Party’s choice for president in the November election. The 59-year-old Vice President was picked on July 21, 2024, after President Joe Biden decided not to run again. Harris is the first Black and South Asian woman to be chosen for president by a major political party, which is historic.

Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate. If they win, Walz will be the third vice president from Minnesota, following Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale.

“I am proud to announce that I’ve asked @Tim_Walz to be my running mate,” Harris posted on X. “As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his. It’s great to have him on the team. Now let’s get to work.”

Tim Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska. He graduated from Chadron State College in 1989 with a degree in education. Walz began teaching at Alliance High School in Nebraska and later moved to Mankato West High School in Minnesota, where he coached football and led the team to its first state championship. Walz served in the US Army National Guard for 24 years, retiring in 2005 as a master sergeant.

Walz started his political career in 2006 when he won a seat in Congress by defeating the Republican incumbent in a rural Minnesota district. In 2018, he became the Governor of Minnesota and has held the office since. Walz, 60, is married to Gwen Walz, a former teacher. They have two children, Hope (23) and Gus (17), and two rescue pets, a dog named Scout and a cat named Honey.