Tim Walz Joins Kamala Harris on Stage Hours After He’s Named Her 2024 Running Mate

Mar. 15, 2025

Kamala Harrisand Minnesota Gov.Tim Walzmade their first joint campaign appearance as running mates on Tuesday, Aug. 6, speaking at Philadelphia’s Temple University. The pair’s stop in Pennsylvania kicks off a five-day tour of seven battleground states.

“Since the day that I announced my candidacy, I set out to find a partner who can help build this brighter future,“Harris saidafter entering the event alongside Walz. “A leader who will help unite our nation and move us forward. A fighter for the middle class. A patriot who believes as I do in the extraordinary promise of America — a promise of freedom, opportunity and justice not just for some but for all.”

“So Pennsylvania,” she continued, “I’m here today because I’ve found such a leader: Gov. Tim Walz of the great state of Minnesota!”

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz enter a Philadelphia campaign rally for the first time as running mates on Aug. 6, 2024.BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty

Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at a Philadelphia campaign rally on Aug. 6, 2024.Andrew Harnik/Getty

Andrew Harnik/Getty

Speaking to Walz’s resume beyond the U.S. Capitol and Minnesota Governor’s Residence, Harris told stories about when he was a public educator and high school football coach, including an anecdote about when of the only openly gay students at his school approached then-Coach Walz about wanting to start a Gay-Straight Alliance.

“At a time when acceptance was difficult to find for LGBTQ students, Tim knew the signal that it would send to have a football coach get involved. So he signed up to be the group’s faculty adviser,” Harris said. “He’s the kind of person who makes everybody feel like they belong, and then inspires them to dream big. And that’s the kind of vice president he will be. And that’s the kind of vice president America deserves.”

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz introduce their White House ticket to Philadelphians on Aug. 6, 2024.Andrew Harnik/Getty

Toward the end of her introduction, Harris drew a contrast between her running mate and Donald Trump’s VP pick,J.D. Vance.

“In his state, he has been a model chief executive and with his experience, I’m telling you, Tim Walz will be ready on day one,” she said to applause. “In fact, when you compare his resume, shall we, to Trump’s running mate… well, some might say it’s like a matchup between the varsity team and the JV squad.”

“My promise to you is this,” she continued. “Our campaign will reach out to everyone, from red states to blue states; from the heartland to the coast; in rural, urban, suburban and tribal communities. We are running a campaign on behalf of all Americans, and when elected, we will govern on behalf of all Americans.”

Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty

Harris, 59, named Walz, 60, as her vice presidential pick on Tuesday morning, rounding out the new Democratic White House ticket.

“One of the things that stood out to me about Tim is how his convictions on fighting for middle class families run deep. It’s personal,” Harris said in a statement explaining her decision. “We are going to build a great partnership. We start out as underdogs but I believe together, we can win this election.”

Despite getting passed over for running mate, Shapiro showed up at Tuesday evening’s event in his home state to rile up Pennsylvania voters in support of the Harris-Walz ticket. When Walz — who chairs the Democratic Governors Association — first took the microphone, he spent a moment praising Shapiro’s leadership.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro campaigns for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz at a Philadelphia rally on Aug. 6, 2024.BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty

Walz, a veteran and former educator, turned to politics in 2006 when he successfully ran for U.S. Congress as a Democrat in a historically Republican district, becoming the highest-ranking enlisted man to serve in Congress.

After 12 years in the House, during which he became the top Democrat on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Walz soundly won the 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial race. He was reelected in 2022.

Noting that he served in the Army National Guard for 24 years, Walz said he used his GI benefits to go to college and become a public school teacher, teaching social studies and coaching high school football for 20 years.

source: people.com