Kamala Harris pick reflects continuation of liberal status quo

Kamala Harris Selects Progressive Patriot Tim Walz as VP Running Mate

'These Are Weird People': Walz Calls Out Trump and Vance, Embraced by Democrats as VP Pick

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Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate for the 2024 election, bringing progressive patriotism and a subtle dig at the MAGA movement to the ticket.

Walz, 60, offers political mastery and suburban-and-rural appeal. With a 53% approval rating in his state, according to Survey USA, Walz brings a fresh perspective to the Democratic ticket.

Harris and Walz will face off against former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, in what is sure to be a heated election.

Walz gained viral fame for his no-holds-barred criticism of the Republican ticket, calling them "weird." In an interview with MSNBC, he said, "They wanna take books away, they wanna be in your exam room... Listen to them speak, listen to how they talk about things. These are weird ideas."

The date for the VP debate between Walz and Vance has not been set, but it's clear that Walz is ready to take on the MAGA agenda and offer a progressive, inclusive vision for America.

Other VP contenders included Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Govs. Josh Shapiro, J.B. Pritzker, and Andy Beshear, and Sen. Mark Kelly.

About the Contributors:

• Julia Gomez, a trending reporter for USA TODAY, covers a range of topics from local Miami news to tech and pop culture. Connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz

• Kinsey Crowley, Sarah D. Wire, Sam Woodward, David Jackson, Sudiksha Kochi, Joey Garrison, and Rachel Barber also contributed to this story.