Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential race, chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.
Born in Nebraska, Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard after graduating high school. He took a high school teaching and coaching position. Walz advised Mankato West High School’s first gay-straight alliance club in Mankato, Minnesota.
Politicos have touted Walz, 60, as a safe choice for Harris, 59, due to his Midwestern heritage and his military service. Sources told ABC News that unions back Walz, though mostly behind the scenes. Walz joined a union as a high school teacher.
Yet the governor has loudly supported experimental transgender medical interventions for children and signed legislation protecting abortion without limitations on late-term abortions.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., the self-declared socialist candidate against whom the Democratic Party united in 2020 when handing Joe Biden the nomination, told Minnesota Public Radio that he supports Walz, saying the governor would “speak up” for the working class.
“I had the opportunity to talk to your governor a few days ago and I am very impressed by him,” Sanders said. “I think you have an excellent governor who understands the needs of working families.”
Walz signed an executive order in March 2023, directing state agencies to protect “gender-affirming care,” a euphemism for experimental interventions designed to make males appear female and vice versa. Supporters hailed the order as designating Minnesota a “trans refuge.”
Under the order, a parent in another state may not take custody action against a parent in Minnesota who is “transitioning” a child.
“We want every Minnesotan to grow up feeling safe, valued, protected, celebrated, and free to exist as their authentic versions of themselves,” Walz said. “Protecting and supporting access to gender-affirming health care is essential to being a welcoming and supportive state.”
While signing the order, Walz held the hand of a 12-year-old boy who said he identified as a transgender girl.
In January 2023, Walz signed a broad abortion law that included no limitations on how late during pregnancy a mother may end the life of her unborn baby.
“To Minnesotans, know that your access to reproductive health, and your right to make your own health care decisions, are preserved and protected,” Walz said then of the Protect Reproductive Options Act. “And because of this law, that won’t change with the political winds and the makeup of the Supreme Court.”
The legislation reads: “Every individual has a fundamental right to make autonomous decisions about the individual’s own reproductive health, including the fundamental right to use or refuse reproductive health care.”
“Reproductive health care” is a euphemism for abortion.
In the last few days, Harris’ running mate shortlist narrowed to three candidates: Walz, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. She met with the three of them Sunday.
The Daily Signal’s Elizabeth Mitchell contributed to this report.
