Kamala Harris chooses Minnesota governor as running mate

Governor of Minnesota Tim Walz will officially be Kamala Harris's candidate for Vice President of the USA. He accepted the Democratic Party's nomination late Wednesday night, Eastern Time.

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Walz accepted the nomination in a speech given on the third day of the ongoing Democratic Party Convention in Chicago. He will run alongside Kamala Harris, who is seeking the presidency.

"I couldn’t be prouder to be on this ticket, and I couldn’t be prouder to help make @KamalaHarris the next President of the United States," Walz wrote on platform X.

The convention in Chicago was an opportunity for Walz to present himself to a broader audience. In his speech, he emphasized that he came from a village in Nebraska and was shaped as a politician by his work as a teacher in a small town in Minnesota.

"We also protected reproductive freedom because, in Minnesota, we respect our neighbours and the personal choices they make. And even if we wouldn't make the same choices for ourselves, we've got a golden rule - mind your own damn business," said the Vice Presidential candidate.

He also warned about Donald Trump's electoral programme, claiming that only the wealthiest would benefit from his presidency, that he would ban abortion, and make life harder for "people who are just trying to live their lives their way." He also criticized Trump's leadership qualities, pointing out that leaders do not spend their entire days insulting people and blaming others.

He argued that he and presidential candidate Kamala Harris have a better offer for Americans. He announced tax cuts for the middle class, lowered prescription drug prices, and made it easier to buy a home.

In 2006, Walz was elected to the House of Representatives, where he spent 12 years. In 2018, he became the Governor of Minnesota.

The 60-year-old is a former National Guard soldier and teacher who has gained recognition among Democratic voters in recent weeks as a staunch supporter of Harris. Walz, a former congressman from a district where Republicans enjoy significant support, has proven to be an attractive choice for white rural voters, even though as governor, he advocated for liberal policies, such as free school meals and expanded paid worker leave - highlighted by Reuters.

Although Minnesota is a state where Democrats perform well, it is located close to Wisconsin and Michigan, which are traditionally skeptical of Democrats. Choosing Walz could be a nod toward an electorate composed of undecided or moderately-minded individuals potentially put off by the unpredictability attributed to Republican candidate Donald Trump - American analysts and media noted in recent days.