Readers Say
“Military chops, deep middle class roots, experienced politician, great sense of humor, and good chemistry with Harris. He checks all the boxes,” one respondent to our poll said.
Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz appears with Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Vice President Kamala Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate in her 2024 presidential campaign on Tuesday, a move Boston.com readers largely support.
Walz, 60, grew up in the small town of West Point, Nebraska and was a social studies teacher, football coach, and union member at Mankato West High School in Minnesota before entering politics.
He served six terms in Congress starting in 2006, where he was a champion of veterans issues. Walz served 24 years in the Army National Guard and rose to the rank of command sergeant major, one of the highest enlisted ranks in the military.
He ran for governor in 2018 and during his first term worked with a legislature that was split between a Democratic-controlled House and a Republican-led Senate.
But the bipartisan cooperation he had established unraveled early in his second year when the pandemic hit, and Republicans criticized Walz for restrictions that included lockdowns, closing schools and shuttering businesses. He came under fire by Republicans again for his response to the unrest in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020.
Despite the criticisms, Walz has made many inroads as governor, such as sweeping protections for abortion rights, new protections for trans rights, tax credits for families with children to address childhood poverty, and universal free school breakfasts and lunches for all students, regardless of family income. Walz and other Democrats also enacted a paid family and medical leave program, legalized recreational marijuana for adults and made it easier to vote.
We asked readers if Walz was the right choice for Harris’s vice presidential pick. The majority (66%) of the 568 respondents to our poll said yes, he was the right candidate. Just over a third of readers disapproved of her choice.
Is Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz the right choice for Kamala Harris’s VP pick?
“With his military background and school teacher-football coach stride, he will appeal to those Democrat and swing voters who may view Harris as elite or aloof,” Ken S. from Cambridge said, adding that Walz is “a Midwestern yin to Harris’s coastal yang.”
Others praised Walz for his “no-nonsense type of leadership” and for bringing “big Midwestern dad energy” to the 2024 election campaign.
“He brings a moderate Midwestern voice to the table along with a toughness to get things done. I’m very excited about the ticket,” Beth S. from Andover said.
Many critics of Harris’s choice said Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro would have been a better pick in order to win over voters in swing states.
“She should have picked someone from a battleground state,” reader Scott from Stoughton said.
Below, see what readers had to say about Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’s vice presidential pick.
Responses have been lightly edited for grammar and clarity.
Is Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz the right choice for Kamala Harris’s VP pick?Yes
“He comes from a rural Midwestern background which will appeal to those who haven’t been swayed by Harris’s background. He has experience with divisive issues and has been well thought out in his responses. The fact that he doesn’t have a traditional political background makes him all the more appealing to independents who want a change in leadership. Lastly, on a personal level, Mr. Walz used to teach with my parents in Nebraska and his wife was my first piano teacher; they are kind, caring and thoughtful people who will bring a breath of fresh air and groundedness to this ticket.” – Elizabeth G., Danvers
“He is a vet and a champion for veterans affairs, he was a successful coach and teacher. He is a union member and he is a bipartisan leader who can get things done unlike a lot of politicians these days. All of these issues align with my life especially after losing a son to PTSD who served proudly as a U.S. Navy corpsman in Iraq.” – J.C., Boston
“Walz appears to be a common sense Democrat and a good choice as VP for Harris. Common sense is something I believe the Republican Party has abandoned with the backing of Donald Trump and his divisive agenda.” – B.B., Medfield
“Military chops, deep middle class roots, experienced politician, great sense of humor, and good chemistry with Harris. He checks all the boxes, and is a good communicator. I think in the end Harris had several good options, but the chemistry thing sealed the deal.” – Bob Z., Littleton
“Walz seems to be the right messenger, at the right time, a man able to appeal both to the base of the party and to rural America. And if the choice was indeed between Walz and PA Gov. Shapiro, the latter pick would probably have cost the Democrats Michigan, and with it, likely the White House.” – Ethan W., Lexington
“Kamala Harris nailed it with her pick of Tim Walz, as the two of them share the same ideals and aspirations for the country. With their selfless devotion to public service, I envision this incredible team steering America back in the right direction and making us the envy of the world in every way conceivable.” – Jeff, Natick
“He represents a good and hopeful version of America. He went to college on the GI Bill. He was a teacher, a coach, a dad – a cat dad! He’s successfully and productively worked with a Republican legislature. He’s actually funny. He’s a retired guardsman. He is entirely unproblematic. It’s a stark contrast to the gruesome twosome.” – Lauren C., Lowell
No
“He’s okay but she should have picked someone from a battleground state like Kelly or Shapiro. She clearly wished to pick someone that would not overshadow her.” – Kevin W., Arlington
“He will only maintain or further country divisions and move the country further to the left as he is favored by the left wing of the party. He will do little to unite the USA toward a cooperative agenda that serves the needs of ALL Americans. Governor Shapiro would have been a better, wiser choice.” – Antonin S., Harvard
“Kamala appears to be doubling down on far-left positions by picking Walz. She risks much by not bringing a more moderate element into her campaign. Bidenomics is a total bust for many, many struggling families, and more of those policies is not going to help those families to get their heads above water.” – Ed T., Worcester
“The major accomplishments as outlined in this article do not address the economy, fiscal responsibility or border security, our country’s highest needs. Plain and simple.” – John, Shrewsbury
“I believe Shapiro would have been more helpful to her election prospects.” – Greg, Newton
Boston.com occasionally interacts with readers by conducting informal polls and surveys. These results should be read as an unscientific gauge of readers’ opinion.
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