Presidential hopeful Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate on Tuesday.
Lt. Gov Peggy Flannagan will become the governor and President of the State Senate Sen. Bobby Joe Champion will become the Lieutenant Governor if Walz is elected or steps down as part of the race.
Harris said that Walz’s drive to fight for those he represents motivated her to select him for the job.
“One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle-class families run deep,” Harris said in an Instagram post announcing her decision. “We are going to build a great partnership. We are going to build a great team. We are going to win this election.”
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Walz was an excellent choice for vice president because he would be a difference maker that would energize the voter base.
“I can’t wait for the rest of the country to get to know @Tim_Walz,” Frey said on X. “Cheers to the ticket that’s going to energize people across the nation.”
Walz, who is in the middle of his second term as Minnesota governor, also served as a congressional representative for the 1st district and as a public school teacher.
Minnesota Republican Rep. Tom Emmer for the 5th District, who was nearly the House speaker before former President Donald Trump opposed him, said in a post on X that Walz’s selection was unsurprising and criticized the Minnesota governor.
“He embodies the same disastrous economic, open-borders and soft-on-crime policies Harris has inflicted on our country the last four years,” Emmer said on X. “Walz is an empty suit who has worked to turn Minnesota into Harris’ home state of California, and solidifies this ticket’s full embrace of a radical, America-last agenda.”
Walz beat out other potential vice presidential hopefuls like Pennslyvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
Flannagan would be the first female Native American governor in U.S. history.
If elected, Walz would become the third Minnesotan to become vice president behind Walter Mondale and Hubert Humphrey.
Walz and Harris will face off against former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance in the November election.
Editor’s Note: Information on Flannagan potentially taking over for Walz has been updated for clarity.