Everything You Need to Know about Tim Walz: Kamala Harris’ VP Pick

Earlier today Vice President Kamala Harris officially announced her pick for VP. Here is everything you need to know about her running mate, Tim Walz.

First, Vice President Kamala Harris is having a successful presidential campaigning season. Shortly after raising over $300 million for her campaign, Harris announced her running mate for the upcoming election. Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota will run alongside Harris as her VP pick, but who exactly is Tim Walz? Here is everything you need to know about the governor, such as his policies and his lifetime achievements throughout his career.

Second, before being announced as the official VP pick, Walz worked as a high school social studies teacher and football coach. He also went on to serve in the Army National Guard. A fun fact about Walz? He chooses Diet Mountain Dew over alcohol any day of the week.

Next, before entering the world of politics, Walz traveled down two different paths. He taught both high school social studies and geography in Nebraska and Minnesota. Walz was also enlisted in the Army as a teenager, later retiring after serving for 24 years in 2005. Primarily focused on recovery from natural disasters, Walz received honors including the Army Commendation Medal for heroism or meritorious service.

Third, regarding politics, Walz was more of a rare breed when it came to the world of Congress. Being a Democrat from the rural Midwest, Walz represented Minnesota’s First District in the more southern part of the state. He was recognized as the top Democrat for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, voting for both the Affordable Care Act and against the restriction of federal funding for abortion. In addition, Walz supported funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now, Walz is a huge advocate for healthcare, signing numerous bills regarding abortions and supporting LGBTQ+ rights. He signed a bill in 2023 codifying the right to abortion in the state of Minnesota, as well as joining Vice President Harris at the Planned Parenthood health center. Walz’s passion for allowing access and freedom to perform abortions stems from his wife’s experience using in vitro fertilization. Without IVF, Walz’s wife would not have been able to conceive their two children.

Walz is also a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights, being a member of the Gay-Straight Alliance. He also signed an executive order last year that protected access to gender-affirming care in the state, as well as signing another to ban conversion therapy in 2021. Walz also believes insulin costs should be heavily reduced, signing an order in 2020 to lower the costs for patients struggling to afford it.

With his extensive background in education, it is no surprise Walz is a huge advocate for students and access to free education. Last year, Minnesota lawmakers approved free breakfasts and lunches for students regardless of income. For college students, the state also approved a financial aid program that covers tuition, housing, and fees at public colleges for households making under $80,000 a year. To add, state lawmakers approved another bill that gave a $2.2 billion boost in K-12 education funding/spending.

To learn more about Tim Walz and donate to the Harris-Walz campaign, click here.