Kamala Harris Picks Tim Walz as Her Running Mate

Vice President Kamala Harris announced Tuesday that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will be her vice-presidential running mate. Here's what you need to know about the outspoken Midwesterner:

• Walz is 60 years old and is currently serving his sixth year as Minnesota's governor.
• He served in the Army National Guard for 24 years, enlisting at age 17, and retiring as Command Sergeant Major. He is the highest-ranking enlisted soldier to serve in the U.S. Congress.
• The Nebraska native earned a bachelor's in social science from Chadron State College and a master's in educational leadership from Minnesota State University.
• Walz met his wife, Gwen Whipple, a fellow teacher, in Nebraska. They married in 1994 and moved to Minnesota, Whipple's home state, two years later. The couple founded Educational Travel Adventures, Inc., organizing student trips to China.
• Walz was elected Minnesota governor in 2018 and again in 2022 but faced criticism for his response to the police killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests in 2020.
• The National Guard was activated as some protests turned violent, with half a billion dollars in damages caused, including the burning of the Minneapolis Police Department's 3rd precinct.
• Four officers, including Derek Chauvin, were convicted of charges related to Floyd's murder.