Kamala Harris Selects Minnesota Governor Tim Walz As Her Running Mate
Ask students: Who is Tim Walz? Which states will the Harris/Walz campaign be touring next week? What did Walz do before entering politics?
The contestants for this November’s presidential race are officially set. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is joining Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris as her running mate. Propelled into the national limelight, one of his greatest challenges will be introducing himself to the nation.
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Key Terms
- bipartisan — supported by or consisting of two political parties
- ascertain — to discover a fact; to make certain
- legislature — an elected group of people who have the power to make and change laws in a state or country
Discussion Questions
- Who is Tim Walz?
- Which states will the Harris/Walz campaign be touring next week?
- What did Walz do before entering politics?
- When did Walz develop more of a progressive stance?
- Why have conservatives criticized Walz in the past?
Focus Questions
Minnesota is a state that has historically voted Democratic, and Tim Walz is generally seen as a progressive governor.
- How do you think these facts now affect Kamala Harris' odds of winning the election?
- Do you think the Democratic party will be able to reach more previously undecided voters? Explain why or why not.
Media literacy: Some media outlets seem to view Tim Walz as a very progressive politician while others see him as more of a moderate. Why do you think there's such a difference in opinions of Tim Walz in the media?
Extension Activity
Watch Kamala Harris introduce Tim Walz as her running mate and listen to his first speech at a Pennsylvania rally in the video below (speech starts at 01:19:29):
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Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS NewsHour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of NewsHour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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