In addition to Walz, multiple sources said the list of candidates includes several other governors: Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, J.B. Pritzker of Illinois and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan. Several members of the Biden administration, including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, are also being considered.
Who is Walz?
Now in his second term as governor, Walz, 60, also served 12 years as a U.S. congressman before his successful 2018 run to lead the state.
During his time as governor, Walz has experienced several major crises. In his first term, he faced harsh criticism from Republicans amid the duel dilemmas of the COVID-19 pandemic and the violent uprising that followed the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.
A swift pivot from Biden backer to Harris supporter
Earlier this month, Walz was among several Democratic governors who visited the White House amid calls for President Biden to drop his reelection bid following the first presidential debate .
Walz told the press after the meeting that Biden was indeed " fit for office ."
"He has had our backs through COVID, through all of the recovery, all the things that have happened. The governors have his back," Walz said.
Soon after Biden announced he was leaving the race on Sunday, Walz quickly fell in line with the majority of Democrats to endorse Harris .
"Vice President Harris will need a strong Midwestern running mate and I encourage her and the Democratic delegates to consider a successful leader who has been a teacher, soldier, football coach, former member of Congress, and a proven winner — Minnesota's Governor Tim Walz," McCollum said.
"I've seen it out there and it's a little weird"
WCCO's Esme Murphy asked Walz on Monday about his VP prospects, but his response was both calculated and cagey.
"I don't think you turn down a job that you haven't been offered, but I have the best job in the world in being the governor of Minnesota," Walz said.
When pressed again about his possible candidacy during an event on Tuesday, Walz made it clear that he wasn't going to speak on the matter and reiterated his full support for Harris. He did, however, quip to reporters about the surrealness of hearing his name being tossed about.
"I've seen it out there and it's a little weird (laughs)!" Walz said.
Delegates will begin the vote to officially nominate Harris on Aug. 1. The Democratic National Convention starts on Aug. 19.
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