Vice President Harris Picks Minnesota’s Democratic Progressive Gov. Tim Walz For 2024 Running Mate

Tuesday, August 6, 2024, 10:00 A.M. ET. 3 Minute Read, By Jennifer Hodges: Englebrook Independent News,

SAINT PAUL, MN.- Today, Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s nominee, has picked Minnesota’s Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for her bid for President in the November 5, 2024 General Election against former President Donald Trump.

     Harris’ pick did not come as a surprise. His name surfaced shortly after President Joe Biden stepped aside from running and threw his support behind Harris as the 2024 Democratic Presidential nominee.

     Walz is a 60-year-old former Congressman and twice-elected Governor of Minnesota, a state Democrats notably won in presidential elections for decades.

     As of last night, Harris had yet to name her running mate. Her choice was between Pennsylvania’s Governor Josh Shapiro and Walz. Shapiro had come under fire in recent days for his pro-Israel stance, which caused the far-left progressive wing of the Democratic Party to criticize him, which may have led Harris to choose Walz instead of him.

     With Walz on the ticket, Harris could win Minnesota, and Walz may also benefit her in the neighboring Minnesota states of Michigan and Wisconsin.

     Walz has become known for his progressive views, such as supporting open borders and illegal immigration and allowing migrants to receive driver’s licenses no matter their immigration status. Walz has passed laws in Minnesota, such as legalizing recreational marijuana, protecting abortion rights, and restricting gun access. 

     During the 2023 Minnesota legislative season, Walz and his Democratic allies put forward major policy victories, including restoring voting rights for convicted felons post-incarceration, expanding paid family and medical leave for Minnesota workers, and providing free meals for public school students, which is expected to cost Minnesota taxpayers an estimated $400 million for the first couple years and would increase over time.

     Walz also came under fire nationwide for his failure to control the 2020 George Floyd riots when he allowed violent protesters and arsonists to inflict around a billion dollars of damage across Minneapolis and some surrounding towns.

     There was also the massive $250 million post-pandemic fraud scheme by a Minnesota-based nonprofit, Feeding Our Future and Partners in Nutrition, which was meant to feed children in need. Members of the nonprofit made up the names of the children they were feeding in order to receive funding.

     To date, over 70 defendants have been charged in connection with what prosecutors have said was the biggest pandemic fraud scheme in the U.S. Seven people have already been tried, and five have been convicted.

     Walz did accept responsibility for the lack of fraud protection and oversight of the state’s Department of Education under his administration only after a scathing audit was released, and the list goes on and on.

     Many of these issues will come back to haunt Walz as he hits the campaign promoting public safety and government spending, just ask many of the residents of Minneapolis how well Walz’s leadership has worked out for them.