Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota and potential running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris, has had an extraordinary political journey. From his humble beginnings as a high school teacher and Army National Guard veteran, Walz has transformed into a progressive champion.
He has embraced Minnesota's leftward shift by enshrining abortion rights, legalizing marijuana, passing climate goals, and implementing gun control laws. Despite his bipartisan reputation in Congress, where he voted along party lines on issues like the Keystone XL pipeline and wetland regulations, Walz has become a pragmatic moderate at heart.
However, his military record has faced scrutiny from his Republican opponent JD Vance, who criticized Walz for retiring from the army before his unit deployed to Iraq. Walz, a 24-year veteran, has defended his decision and highlighted his dedication to serving his country.
Former President Trump also claimed to have saved Walz from protesters in 2020, but Walz contradicted this, stating that Trump's rhetoric actually brought armed people to his house. Overall, Walz's ordinary background and shrewd political instincts have propelled him to prominence in Minnesota politics.
