WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate Tuesday morning.
Harris initially considered nearly a dozen candidates before zeroing in on a handful of serious contenders. In landing on Walz, she sided with a low-key partner who has proved himself as a champion for Democratic causes. Walz is a Midwestern governor, military veteran and union supporter who helped enact an ambitious Democratic agenda for his state, including sweeping protections for abortion rights and generous aid to families.
Here’s how DMV leaders are reacting:
U.S. President Joe Biden
“The first major decision a party nominee makes is their choice for Vice President. And Kamala Harris has made a great decision in choosing Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate.
I've known Tim Walz for nearly two decades, first during his time in Congress and as Governor. A husband and father, he's been a school teacher and a high school football coach. He served for 24 years in the Army National Guard and became the highest ranking enlisted soldier to ever serve in Congress. As Governor, he's been a strong, principled, and effective leader.
The Harris-Walz ticket will be a powerful voice for working people and America's great middle class. They will be the strongest defenders of our personal freedoms and our democracy. And they will ensure that America continues to lead the world and play its role as the indispensable nation.
It's time for all Democrats—and indeed all Americans—committed to freedom, democracy, and American leadership in the world to rally behind the Harris-Walz ticket.
Every generation of Americans faces a moment where they are asked to defend American democracy. That moment is now.”
Former U.S. President Barack Obama and Former First Lady Michelle Obama
"When a presidential candidate chooses a running mate, it says a lot about who they are and what kind of president they'll be. Do they pick someone inexperienced and polarizing who will deepen our divisions? Or do they pick someone with the judgment to make tough decisions, and the character to believe that every voice counts and everyone deserves an equal chance?
By selecting Tim Walz to be her vice president from a pool of outstanding Democrats, Kamala Harris has chosen an ideal partner — and made it clear exactly what she stands for.
Governor Walz doesn't just have the experience to be vice president, he has the values and the integrity to make us proud. As governor, Tim helped families and businesses recover from the pandemic, established paid family leave, guaranteed the right to an abortion, and put common sense gun safety measures in place to keep communities safe. But Tim's signature is his ability to talk like a human being and treat everyone with decency and respect - not all that surprising considering the fact that he served in the National Guard for 24 years and worked as a high school social studies teacher and football coach before being elected to Congress.
Like Vice President Harris, Governor Walz believes that government works to serve us. Not just some of us, but all of us. That's what makes him an outstanding governor, and that's what will make him an even better vice president, ready on day one. Michelle and I couldn't be happier for Tim and Gwen, their family, and our country."
Trump-Vance Campaign Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt
"It’s no surprise that San Francisco Liberal Kamala Harris wants West Coast wannabe Tim Walz as her running-mate – Walz has spent his governorship trying to reshape Minnesota in the image of the Golden State. While Walz pretends to support Americans in the Heartland, when the cameras are off, he believes that rural America is ‘mostly cows and rocks’. From proposing his own carbon-free agenda, to suggesting stricter emission standards for gas-powered cars, and embracing policies to allow convicted felons to vote, Walz is obsessed with spreading California’s dangerously liberal agenda far and wide. If Walz won’t tell voters the truth, we will: just like Kamala Harris, Tim Walz is a dangerously liberal extremist, and the Harris-Walz California dream is every American’s nightmare."
Maryland Democratic Party Chair Ken Ulman
“The selection of Gov. Tim Walz as our nominee is a momentous occasion for our party and a pivotal moment for our country.
Gov. Tim Walz has governed boldly as a progressive and working class champion, whose small town values will contrast sharply with the divisive politics of the GOP’s MAGA extremism.
VP Kamala Harris has once again demonstrated that she is the leader our party needs in this moment with her bold, exciting choice for Vice President.
As we move toward the November election, I am confident that with Gov. Tim Walz on the ticket, Democrats can be confident that our ticket is well-positioned to inspire voters, build on our grassroots momentum, and realize a future that reflects our shared values.
The Maryland Democratic Party is proud to stand behind VP Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz, and we are ready to work tirelessly to ensure their victory.”
Virginia Democratic Party Chair Susan Swecker
“Tim Walz represents all of what a true leader is – someone who is a fighter, a helper, a teacher, and a kind-hearted person. As a governor, congressman, and longtime educator, he has proven that he is laser-focused on solving real problems that impact working-class families. A Harris-Walz administration will advance the historic progress Democrats have made in improving the daily lives of Virginians and Americans and block MAGA Republicans’ dangerous and extreme plans. We are looking forward to spending every minute over the next three months working to elect the Harris-Walz ticket.”
Maryland Governor Wes Moore
“Selecting the VP is one of the first and most important decisions a presidential nominee can make. VP Harris chose an educator, a Governor with a proven track record of progress, and a lifelong patriot in Tim Walz.
As a fellow Army vet, I know that Governor Walz and his 24 years of dedicated service in uniform have equipped him with the invaluable leadership skills we need in a Vice President.
His incredible journey of service – from Sergeant Major in the Army National Guard to public school teacher and union leader, to Governor of Minnesota – isn’t just a source of inspiration for future generations and evidence of his deep commitment to this country; it’s also proof of his effectiveness as a leader who is going to generate wins not just for the Democratic Party in November, but for the entire country as he works in partnership with our next president, Kamala Harris.
There’s not a doubt in my mind that this is the team our country needs right now. They’re the partners Maryland needs in the White House. They’re the ticket that our country needs to build on President Biden’s historic accomplishments. They're the team who will defeat Donald Trump and JD Vance in November.”
Virginia U.S. Senator Tim Kaine
“I couldn’t be happier that Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate in this election!
From one Tim to another — I’m so proud to support Tim Walz as the next Vice President of the United States, and I’m going to do everything I can to help send Kamala and Tim to the White House in November. …
Here’s one thing I always look out for: Do the people who know you best — those who’ve seen your work, experienced your leadership, and been around you over the long term — support you? And with Tim Walz, the answer is a resounding YES. After spending six terms in the U.S. House of Representatives serving a rural, red district, he was elected governor in 2018 by a margin of more than 11 percentage points — and then was re-elected in 2022. The people who know Tim Walz best…well, it’s clear they love him!
Beyond public office, Tim Walz has been serving our country for decades — he served 24 years in the Army National Guard and retired as a command sergeant major, and he served his community as a high school social studies teacher before serving in the House and as Governor.
As governor, Tim fought to enshrine the right to abortion in state law, set paid family and medical leave requirements for employees, and expanded background checks for gun purchases.
I have no doubt that as our next Vice President, Tim Walz will fight to protect and expand our rights, just as he has done as Governor of Minnesota.
I’m looking forward to working with my friends Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to win the White House, hold the Senate majority, and keep Virginia blue, and I hope you’re with me! …
I know what it’s like to be a VP candidate. I’ve said before that it’s not just about helping the ticket be successful, but also about being a great friend — a candid confidant behind closed doors, and your running mate’s biggest cheerleader. I’m so glad that Kamala has a good friend by her side in Tim Walz!”
Maryland U.S. Senate Candidate and Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks
“I couldn’t be more excited for Vice President Harris, for Maryland, and for our country in her decision of Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate.
Vice President Kamala Harris knows that in this election, our freedoms are on the line. And that’s why she’s chosen a qualified running mate who shares her vision for our country’s future and her fierce commitment to the freedoms that make this country great.
Governor Walz knows the stakes of this election. This is a decent man — a military veteran and former public school teacher — whose north star has always been the people he serves. His commitment to our freedoms and to our country is unshakeable.
The vision that Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Walz share is one where our freedoms are protected in the United States. It’s a vision that stands in diametric opposition to the vision of Donald Trump’s and J.D. Vance’s Republican Party.
And both Vice President Harris and Governor Walz know that the only way we can achieve that vision and protect our freedoms is with a Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate. This race here in Maryland will likely determine who holds the 51st seat. And Marylanders will speak with a clear and resounding voice in November that our freedoms are worth fighting for.
I am proud to be fighting for our future, for our freedoms, and for our families.
Let’s go!”
Maryland U.S. Senate Candidate and Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan
“I want to extend my congratulations to Governor Walz on being selected as the Democratic vice presidential nominee. We had the chance to work together as fellow governors, and while we come from different parties, I have always appreciated his dedication to public service. I believe we need more governors at the national level because governors have to actually get stuff done. I wish Tim and his family well in the campaign ahead.”
West Virginia U.S. Senator Joe Manchin
“My friend Governor Tim Walz will bring normality back to the most chaotic political environment that most of us have ever seen. All of the candidates were strong and any one of them would have been a great pick, but I can think of no one better than Governor Walz to help bring our country closer together and bring balance back to the Democratic Party. Governor Walz is the real deal. I look forward to continuing to work with him to bring normalcy back to Washington.”