Gov. Tim Walz Of MN: 5 Things To Know About Potential Harris VP Pick

ST. PAUL, MN — Gov. Tim Walz is reportedly one of three finalists to become Vice President Kamala Harris's running mate as she seeks the White House this fall.

In addition to Walz, Harris is also considering Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.

Political analysts believe Walz could help the Harris campaign connect with small-town and rural voters, especially in the Midwest, but also argue the case for a progressive agenda.

Walz grew up in a small town, joined the Army National Guard, was a public school teacher, and helped state Democrats flip the Minnesota Senate in 2022.

Democrats are also praising Walz for how he's gone after Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance, claiming that "people like J.D. Vance know nothing about small-town America."

The Harris campaign has even adopted Walz's "Republicans are weird" slogan.

Here are five things to know about Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota:

Early life

Walz grew up in Chadron, Nebraska, and graduated from Chadron State College with a degree in social studies. Chadron is a town of about 5,000 people.

After college, Walz spent a year teaching abroad before returning home to serve full-time in the Army National Guard.

After 24 years in the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2005.

High school teacher and football coach

Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota taught social studies for 20 years, including at Mankato West High School in Mankato. Walz also coached the Scarlets' football team during that time, leading them to their first-ever state championship.

Before that, Walz taught high school in Nebraska and on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

While teaching, Walz met his future wife, Gwen Whipple.

Walz begins his political career

Walz decided to run for public office in 2006, and he went on to beat Republican incumbent Gil Gutknecht in Minnesota's 1st congressional district. The rural district was a Republican stronghold before Walz's election.

Walz represented the district in the U.S. House from 2007 to 2019. When he left Congress to run for governor of Minnesota, the district returned to Republican hands.

In 2018, Walz ran for governor and won.

Walz as governor of Minnesota

Democrats have achieved unprecedented political success in Minnesota since Tim Walz became governor.

In 2022, state Democrats achieved the government "trifecta" by winning the governor's office, state senate, and state House of Representatives.

This trifecta allowed Democrats to pursue and implement a progressive legislative agenda without little political opposition.

While elected as a moderate, Wals has overseen the passage of some of the most progressive state laws in the nation. Under his term, Minnesota:

• Ended all restrictions and laws surrounding abortion, made Minnesota an abortion sanctuary, and ended state funding for crisis pregnancy centers.
• Began providing free lunch to all students from PreK through high school.
• Minnesota became a "trans refugee" and outlawed restrictions on surgeries related to gender dysphoria

Drawbacks as VP

In addition to the upsides, Walz presents plenty of political liabilities, too. He was governor of Minnesota when rioters burned and looted Minneapolis and St. Paul businesses in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.

Additionally, Walz's administration was blamed for allowing $250 million in COVID-era fraud to happen under their watch.

Ultimately, the Harris campaign will have to weigh if Walz's potential upside outweighs the risks he might present to a national campaign against the former president and Republican candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance.