Considered by many to be her most significant move since beginning her candidacy just over two weeks ago, Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate.
What should I do next?
Walz’s promotion to the ticket has not been officially announced as yet. Not only may this affect the presidential race, but it may also significantly alter the political landscape in his home state.
Regarding what happens next, here are a few of your questions addressed.
How soon will it be official?
To be fair, Walz has not yet been formally nominated as the Democratic candidate for vice president. Just like when Harris was named the nominee, his addition to the ticket is contingent upon the ratification of his nomination by Democratic delegates. For the nomination to be official, it need the signatures of both Harris and Walz.
It will not take long at all. Democratic National Committee officials have stated their intention to nominate the ticket by Wednesday in order to comply with an amended Ohio ballot-access deadline. Near the end of Monday’s virtual roll call for president, they reported that Harris had received 99 percent of the delegates’ votes.
In other words, this is not going to provide the dramatic twists you’re hoping for at the last minute.
In theory, the delegates might reject Harris’s choice and install someone else, but let’s be honest: That’s highly unlikely.
What time will Walz begin campaigning?
Harris will begin a tour of battleground states with her new running mate on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. West Wisconsin, Detroit, Raleigh, North Carolina, Phoenix, and Las Vegas are all on their barnstorming schedule for the rest of the week.
Tropical Storm Debby, which made landfall as a hurricane in Florida on Monday, is predicted to bring potentially historic rainfall to the Southeast this week, postponing a previously scheduled performance in Savannah, Georgia.
Is the convention still on?
On the second-to-last night of the convention, the vice presidential candidate usually takes the stage.
It is customary for the vice presidential candidate to deliver their acceptance speech on the second-to-last night of the convention, which means that Walz will likely take the stage in Chicago on August 21st. However, no official schedule has been released at this time.
At this point, is Walz’s resignation mandatory?
No, Walz will keep his position as governor while he runs for vice president; he will only be required to step down from his position if he is elected.
In that case, who will take his seat?
Assuming the ticket’s victory, Walz would be required to step down as governor sometime between the dates of the election and the inauguration.
Afterwards, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan of Minnesota would take over as governor for the rest of Walz’s tenure. When Flanagan and Walz faced off against the Republican ticket in 2022, they were decisively defeated.
In 2026, Flanagan would have the opportunity to run for reelection. If she succeeds Walz, she will make history as the first Native American woman to hold the office of governor in any state and the first woman to serve as governor of Minnesota.