Who is Tim Walz and why do I need to know about him?
He’s the Governor of Minnesota who’s been chosen by Democratic Presidential nominee Kamala Harris to be her running mate in the US election campaign – meaning that if she’s elected, he’ll be the Vice President. 

Got it. What can you tell me about him?
In a nutshell, he’s a 60yo father-of-2 who hails from humble beginnings in Nebraska. He moved to Minnesota with his wife after they got married, where he worked as a high school social studies teacher and coached the football team. He was elected to the US House of Representatives in 2006, and in 2018 he became the Governor of Minnesota. Before he ran for politics, he served 24 years in the Army National Guard (which is similar to our Army Reserve), which he joined when he was 17yo, and reports say he’s a keen hunter and an excellent marksman.  

Why did he get into politics?
Reports about his life say social justice has been a big motivator for him. His decision to run for politics came after a group of students he took on an excursion to a Republican George W Bush rally in 2004 were turned away because one of the kids had a sticker supporting Bush’s opponent, John Kerry, on his pencil case. The next day, Walz signed up as a volunteer for Kerry’s campaign, but he didn’t run for Congress himself until 2006, and he was very much considered the underdog in a historically Republican seat – but he won in an upset. 

What are some of his achievements in office?
Well, he not only won that term, he won the next 5 in a row, and he’s since won 2 successive Governorships, which tells us he’s popular with voters. As Governor of Minnesota, he’s put in place paid parental and carers’ leave, protections for abortion rights and free meals for school children, and he allowed undocumented migrants to get driver’s licences. He’s also big on renewable energy projects, and he’s behind a push to make the state’s electricity grid carbon-free by 2040. 

Why did Harris choose him as her potential Veep?
Political watchers say he’s bringing ‘wholesome, midwest dad vibes’ and that’s what the Harris campaign wants people to buy into. By introducing him as “Coach” and “Sergeant Major” at rallies and telling the crowds about his military service and his teaching career, commentators say Harris is making Walz instantly relatable. 

Why does she want to do that?
Well, as far as Presidential nominees go, Harris doesn’t fit the norm at all. If elected, she’ll be the first female President of the United States, she’s from a Black and South Asian background, she’s a step-mum to her husband’s 2 kids who call her ‘Momala’, and she’s come to politics through a successful law career as the Attorney General of California. By choosing Walz, she not only balances the Democratic ticket in terms of gender and race but she’s also chosen someone who’s aligned with her political agenda and who lives right next door to 3 crucial swing states the Democrats need to win in order to be elected in November.

Remind me which states they are…
We’re talking about Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. They’re known as the battleground states because they could vote either way – whereas a lot of US states are seen as a slam dunk for one party or the other. These states, though, are really up for grabs… and they’re all in the midwest of America in what’s known as the ‘heartland’. So, experts say Harris is relying on Walz’s ability to swing those voters towards the Democrats and away from Trump, just as he’s done in Minnesota.

What else does Walz bring to the table?
He brings a sass that adds to Harris’ ‘brat’ cred with younger voters, and a few of his one-liners have gone viral. He’s also bringing a sense of positivity to the Democrats’ campaign, which dovetails with their buzzword, ‘freedom’ – tapping into a core American ideal, whether it be freedom of speech, or to carry a gun to defend themselves or to practise a religion. Harris says it a lot in her speeches, and it’s also the title of the Beyoncé song that’s become their campaign anthem.

But what does it really mean?
In relation to their policy agenda, they’ve now got the job of explaining what it means to millions of voters on their introductory tour across the US, culminating in the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, which starts on Tuesday (our time). For the most part, their agenda continues with many of President Joe Biden’s policies, like tax breaks for low-carbon energy projects and support for Israel and Ukraine, but it’s considered more progressive in pushing for reproductive rights for women and border policy reform with earned pathways to citizenship for migrants. 

So, how are the Democrats looking?
The Harris campaign took in US$36 million in the first 24 hours after it announced Tim Walz as her running mate – and that influx of money was seen by political commentators as a clear sign of support for her choice. It came on top of the US$310 million Harris has raised under her own steam in the weeks since President Biden bowed, which was a huge turnaround given donations to his campaign had all but dried up before he stepped aside. 

What about poll numbers?
It’s not only the money that’s showing an uptick. The New York Times this week said Harris is now polling ahead of Trump in the battleground states – where Biden was equal to or trailing Trump for the past year.

What are some of the challenges ahead for them?
Well, Harris and Walz will have their work cut out for them fending off attacks from the Republicans – who predictably came out swinging as soon as Walz’s appointment was announced. So far, they’ve labelled him as “crazy left-wing”, criticised his armed service record and called out his “lenient” approach to migrants in Minnesota. Trump has also questioned Harris’ ability to tackle the rising number of illegal border crossings from Mexico, along with her foreign policy chops. 

How has she responded?
Harris has countered those claims by citing her track record of prosecuting drug cartels and smugglers as the Attorney General of California, saying: “I know what I’m talking about.” And in relation to her ability to manage foreign policy, political experts say Harris has been doing a lot of the heavy lifting while Biden’s been busy with, up until recently, preparing for an election. So she’s made some solid connections with heads of state in Europe and Asia. 

How would Australia go under a Harris/Walz administration?
Harris has a good relationship with our PM Anthony Albanese. They’ve met multiple times at global summits and events, and as far as Australia’s relationship with America goes, reports predict it would be business as usual with Harris and Walz in the White House. Harris has said she’s supportive of the AUKUS defence agreement, our government’s climate goals are aligned with hers, and she has a good grasp on Indo-Pacific issues. 

What’s next?
The date is set for Harris and Trump’s first Presidential debate on 10 September, so get the popcorn ready…

Squiz recommends:

Watching: This clip of Tim Walz from an interview on MSNBC that went viral… It’s a good soundbite/snapshot of what he stands for and his style of speaking.

Reading: An article from the Sydney Morning Herald titled “Harris leads Trump in three key states after a year of Biden’s polls struggle” is a great overview of the recent gains the Democrats have made in the polls and why the swing states are vital for winning the election.