New Hampshire Democrats cheered the news progressive Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is Vice President Kamala Harris’ pick to be her running mate.
Harris made the announcement to her supporters via text, telling them, “Tim is a battle-tested leader who has an incredible track record of getting things done for Minnesota families.”
Walz, 60, is a former high school teacher and football coach. He served in Congress from 2007-2019 and is in his second term as governor of Minnesota. He also chairs the National Democratic Governors Association.
Choosing Walz surprised many political observers who believed Gov. Josh Shapiro, the popular Pennsylvania moderate, was the most likely choice. Pennsylvania is viewed as a “must-win” for Democrats if they hope to hold on to the White House.
New Hampshire Democrats say they’re delighted by Harris’ pick.
“Kamala Harris has selected an excellent running mate!” gubernatorial candidate Executive Councilor Cinde Warmington posted on X. “Tim Walz has been a leader in the fight for organized labor, public education, LGBTQ rights, and more. I look forward to working with the campaign to defeat the MAGA agenda in the Granite State!”
Former Manchester mayor Joyce Craig, also running in the Democratic primary for governor, said, “I’m thrilled to support the team of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz for president and vice president of the United States! Gov. Walz has dedicated his life in service of our country and he makes an incredible addition to this winning ticket.”
In the Second Congressional District, Democrat Maggie Goodlander was also “thrilled.”
“Thrilled that Kamala Harris has selected Tim Walz as her running mate,” Goodlander posted. “He’s a proven leader — a veteran, educator, and executive. He will fight like hell for the American people and be a terrific partner to America’s first woman president! Let’s win this thing.”
Granite State Republicans, not surprisingly, said Walz’s progressive record made him the wrong choice for New Hampshire.
“Walz is a perfect fit for Harris, who was rated the most liberal U.S. senator in 2019 by the non-partisan GovTrack,” said state GOP chair Chris Ager. “He fits right in with her open border, pro-criminal, left-wing agenda.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte says Walz is what voters should expect from the Harris campaign.
“No surprise that Kamala Harris picked Tim Walz — a sanctuary city supporting, give drivers licenses to illegals, blue state, far-left liberal to be her VP pick. Under Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, the southern border will remain wide open and our local communities will bear the brunt of their disastrous policies.
“We need Donald Trump and JD Vance in the White House to secure the border and turn the tide against illegal immigration. As governor, I will never allow sanctuary policies, unlike my opponents who would take us down the wrong road on day one.”
Republican First Congressional District candidate Hollie Noveletsky also called out Walz for his immigration policy. “He has supported policies like sanctuary cities and giving illegal immigrants driver’s licenses, while opposing commonsense border security policies like building the wall.”
And former New Hampshire congressional nominee Karoline Leavitt, now a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, said, “It’s no surprise that San Francisco Liberal Kamala Harris wants West Coast wannabe Tim Walz as her running-mate – Walz has spent his governorship trying to reshape Minnesota in the image of the Golden State.
“From proposing his own carbon-free agenda, to suggesting stricter emission standards for gas-powered cars, and embracing policies to allow convicted felons to vote, Walz is obsessed with spreading California’s dangerously liberal agenda far and wide. If Walz won’t tell voters the truth, we will: Jalz is a dangerously liberal extremist, and the Harris-Walz California dream is every American’s nightmare.”
