Meet Tim Walz: Kamala Harris' surprising pick for Vice President

Kamala Harris has finally decided on her running mate after weeks of speculation. She selected one of the initially lesser-known candidates: Tim Walz.

By selecting Walz, Harris shows she is keeping her eye on the Midwest. AP News said states like Minnesota, which Waltz governs, have served as a buffer for Democrats.

Still, the decision is surprising. Minnesota is not a swing state. Harris had names like Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on her shortlist, who controls a critical state.

Walz rose as a strong contender thanks to his successful media appearances. According to the NY Times, Harris also wanted someone she could feel comfortable with and share a sense of humor.

However, familiarity is not the only asset Tim Waltz has brought to the Harris campaign. He was the architect of the 'weird' label on Donald Trump and JD Vance.

Democrats have seized the label that is stuck on voters. This can be a good opportunity to lighten the weight of the race and give less power to the Trump figure.

When asked about it, he said it was not an insult but just an observation. The hit was much better received, for its simplicity and seeming innocence, than Clinton's "deplorables" 2016 comment.

But before being vetted for VP, Tim Walz had a solid political career, championing vital issues for Democrats and convincing traditionally conservative districts to pick him.

According to the NY Times, Walz accidentally started his political career after taking his high school students to witness a George W. Bush rally and being turned away.

AP News says he served 24 years in the Army National Guard. He achieved one of the highest enlisted ranks in the military: command sergeant major.

He championed Veteran issues during his first run for Congress in a primarily rural district of Minnesota. He was reelected six times to his chair and served 12 years.

According to the NY Times, Walz served on three House committees in Congress: agriculture, veteran affairs, and armed services. He was viewed as a moderate.

He launched his campaign for Governor in 2018 and won by a landslide. According to AP News, he was 11 points over his Republican contender.

During his first term as Governor, Walz maintained his moderate image and succeeded in challenging circumstances: the pandemic, the assassination of George Floyd, and a divided state congress.

However, AP News explains that the pandemic changed Republicans' willingness to reach bipartisan deals. He aimed to control everything when he launched his reelection bid in 2022.

He won by 8 points and, with complete control of the state House and Senate, launched some of his most progressive policies. He protected abortion rights, launched programs to reduce poverty, and protected trans rights.

According to the NY Times, Harris's dual identity appealed to him. He has the image of a moderate Midwesterner but pushes some strong progressive policies.

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