West Virginia Political Leaders React to Walz’s Selection as Running Mate

FILE – Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in the press room at the State Capitol, on March 13, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski, File)

CHARLESTON — Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president in November, received praise from a former West Virginia Democratic leader and current Democratic candidates in the state for selecting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate.

Harris, who serves as President Joe Biden’s vice president, announced Walz as her running mate Tuesday morning. Walz, a former six-term member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, was re-elected to a second term as governor in 2022.

Walz was among several names being considered by Harris as her running mate, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. Walz is a former high school teacher and coach with 24 years in the Army National Guard.

Major Democratic elected officials and party officials quickly united behind Harris after Biden – the former U.S. Senator from Delaware and vice president to former President Barack Obama – announced July 26 that he would not seek a second term and withdrawal from the race. While the official nominating ceremonies won’t take place until the Democratic National Convention Aug. 19-22 in Chicago, Harris had more than 99% of delegate support in a virtual rollcall that ended Monday evening.

West Virginia’s delegation to the DNC voted July 22 to throw their support behind Harris. West Democratic Party Chairman Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, released a statement Tuesday praising Harris’s selection of Walz.

“West Virginia Democrats are thrilled to support the selection of Governor Tim Walz as the Vice Presidential nominee,” Pushkin said. “Governor Walz has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to improving the lives of everyday Americans.

“His experience as a public servant, from his time as a congressman to his role as Governor of Minnesota, showcases his dedication to education, health care, and economic growth,” Pushkin continued. “Tim Walz’s proven ability to bring people together and tackle pressing issues with practical solutions aligns perfectly with the values we hold dear in West Virginia. I am confident that his partnership on the ticket will bring a renewed sense of hope and progress to our nation.”

U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., may not be a registered Democrat anymore, but he released a statement supporting Walz, saying that he will help bring normalcy back to national politics.

“My friend Governor Tim Walz will bring normality back to the most chaotic political environment that most of us have ever seen,” Manchin said. “All of the candidates were strong and any one of them would have been a great pick, but I can think of no one better than Governor Walz to help bring our country closer together and bring balance back to the Democratic Party. Governor Walz is the real deal. I look forward to continuing to work with him to bring normalcy back to Washington.”

The next race on the ballot in November is U.S. Senate and the seat that Manchin is retiring from at the end of the year, where former Wheeling mayor and Democratic candidate Glenn Elliott is facing off against Republican Gov. Jim Justice. He said once voters get to know Walz, they will see he is more than qualified for the role of vice president.

“While I was more familiar with some of the other candidates, I think Governor Walz is a strong pick,” Elliott said. “In him, you have a two-term governor with congressional experience, a military veteran, a Midwesterner with strong ties to organized labor, and, perhaps most importantly, someone who is relatable to everyday Americans. Furthermore, as governor, he has done far more with a divided legislature than my opponent has been able to do with a strong supermajority of his own party.”

Justice, who quickly endorsed the ticket of former Republican President Donald Trump as the party’s nominee for president in November with U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, as his vice presidential running mate, was critical Tuesday of Walz selection.

“Kamala Harris’s selection of Tim Walz as her running mate makes it clear Democrats are doubling down on a radical left agenda that doesn’t reflect the values of most Americans,” Justice said on social media. “We must elect the Trump-Vance ticket to Make America Great Again!”

Pushkin contrasted Walz’ record with that of Justice, who has been criticized by Democratic lawmakers for not living in Charleston as required by the state Constitution, limiting access to the press, and a litany of issues involving his businesses.

“Governor Tim Walz is a leader who shows up for work every day, listens to the needs of his constituents, and is accountable to the people he serves,” Pushkin said. “In stark contrast, Governor Jim Justice has consistently failed to fulfill his duties as governor — he doesn’t show up for work, doesn’t answer questions from the press, and doesn’t pay his bills. The people of West Virginia, and the nation, deserve leadership that is committed, responsible, and transparent.”