(The Center Square) – Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate over a handful of other prominent Democrats that included Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
President Joe Biden announced last month he was not seeking reelection and endorsed Harris to be the party’s nominee. Speculation on who would be her running mate surrounded several prominent Democrats including Pritzker.
Tuesday morning, Harris chose Walz.
"I am proud to announce that I've asked @Tim_Walz to be my running mate. As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he's delivered for working families like his. It's great to have him on the team," Harris posted on X shortly before 10:30 a.m. eastern on Thursday.
At an unrelated event in Chicago, Pritzker said Walz is a good pick for Democrats.
“Look, he is a kind and decent human being,” Pritzker said. “Tim Walz cares deeply about the work that he does and every person that he interacts with.”
Pritzker said he’s not sorry “at all” that the pick comes from the Midwest and said Walz is strong on issues like abortion.
Harris will be joined by Walz Tuesday evening in Pennsylvania for a rally.
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign released a video saying Walz will be a rubber stamp for Harris’ liberal agenda.
“Like allowing convicted felons to walk free, embracing anti-American Green New Deal policies and giving up control of our southern border to criminal aliens and violent drug cartels,” the video said. “Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, they’re failed, weak and dangerously liberal.”
The Illinois Republican Party said Harris' pick shows Democrats will continue with "the disastrous Bidenomics policies crippling the nation's economy as we speak."
"At least Americans can breathe easy knowing that Illinois's own out-of-touch leftist billionaire governor JB Pritzker won't be a heartbeat away from the Presidency anytime soon," said Illinois GOP Chair Kathy Salvi. "With leftists like these headlining the Democrat ticket, President Trump's message of secure borders, safe streets, and prosperous communities will win in November"
Pritzker said he has not considered vying for a cabinet position, though he talked about the vetting process he was part of for VP, saying it was professional and thorough.
“I have to say that I wanna be clear with everybody, you know you often hear me say I love being the governor of Illinois, I really love being the governor of Illinois, so I was very torn,” he said.
Democrats will hold their national convention in Chicago beginning Aug. 19 to make their ticket official. The election is Nov. 5.
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