PHILADELPHIA (AP/1010 WINS) -- Vice President Kamala Harris announced Tuesday that she had chosen progressive Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate ahead of a rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday night. Harris officially claimed the Democratic nomination on Monday night, becoming the first woman of color to lead a major party ticket.
HERE'S THE LATEST:
2 p.m. -- Former House Speaker Pelosi welcomes Walz to the race
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi welcomed the Minnesotan to what she called the Harris-Walz "freedom ticket."
"In the Congress, I saw firsthand Tim Walz's leadership, collaborative spirit and effectiveness in bringing people together and getting the job done," Pelosi said in a statement.
The former Democratic House speaker was pivotal in reshaping the presidential race as President Joe Biden stepped aside and she said the field of potential VP candidates "demonstrated the strength and vitality of the next generation of Democratic leadership."
12:15 p.m. -- Vance says Walz pick 'highlights how radical' Harris is
In his first public comments since his general election foe was set, JD Vance on Tuesday called Tim Walz a choice that "highlights how radical Kamala Harris is."
In a gaggle with reporters aboard his campaign plane upon landing in Philadelphia, Vance said Harris "is a person who listened to the Hamas wing of her own party" in selecting a nominee, and that Walz "wants to make the American people more reliant on garbage energy instead of good American energy and who has proposed defunding the police."
Vance also claimed Walz "allowed rioters to burn down Minneapolis in the summer of 2020."
Vance is speaking more to reporters in Philadelphia on Tuesday ahead of campaign events across Midwestern battleground states on Wednesday, in a path that somewhat mirrors Harris and Walz's planned trajectory.
12 p.m. -- Biden spoke with both Harris and Walz
Biden spoke with both Harris and Walz on Tuesday, according to Emilie Simons, the White House senior deputy press secretary.
Simons said in a statement: "This morning, the President and Vice President spoke on the phone ahead of her official announcement that she selected Governor Tim Walz as her Vice Presidential nominee. The President also spoke with Governor Walz to congratulate him on his selection."
Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz prepares to depart from his temporary governors residence for a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Aug. 6, 2024 in St Paul, Minnesota.Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
11:50 a.m. -- Biden says Harris made 'great decision' for VP
President Joe Biden made his first public comments on Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, saying she made a "great decision" and urging Democrats to "rally behind the Harris-Walz ticket."
In an X post, Biden said he's known Walz for nearly two decades and sees him as "a strong, principled, and effective leader."
The president noted Walz has been a school teacher, high school football coach and in the Army National Guard.
"The Harris-Walz ticket will be a powerful voice for working people and America's great middle class," Biden wrote. "Every generation of Americans faces a moment where they are asked to defend American democracy. That moment is now."
11:30 a.m. -- Barack Obama praises VP pick
Former President Barack Obama praised Kamala Harris' pick of Tim Walz for VP, saying Harris made clear "exactly what she stands for."
Obama released a statement with former first lady Michelle Obama, calling Walz the "ideal partner" for Harris' campaign."
The former president hailed Walz's time as governor of Minnesota, saying he, "helped families and businesses recover from the pandemic, established paid family leave, guaranteed the right to an abortion, and put common sense gun safety measures in place to keep communities safe."
Obama also pointed to Walz's 24 years in the National Guard, saying it showed his human qualities.
"Michelle and I couldn't be happier for Tim and Gwen, their family, and our country," Obama wrote.
11 a.m. -- Tim Walz says he's 'all in'
In a Tuesday morning post on X, Tim Walz said joining the ticket with Harris is "the honor of a lifetime."
His profile details on X are now "Running to win this thing with @kamalaharris."
"It is the honor of a lifetime to join @kamalaharris in this campaign," he wrote. "I'm all in. Vice President Harris is showing us the politics of what's possible. It reminds me a bit of the first day of school. So, let's get this done, folks! Join us."
10:35 a.m. -- Harris officially announces Tim Walz as running mate
Kamala Harris posted on X that she had chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate after media reports indicated he was her choice for VP.
"I am proud to announce that I've asked @Tim_Walz to be my running mate," she wrote. "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. Now let's get to work."
10:20 a.m. -- How Harris came to pick Walz as her running mate
A team of lawyers and political operatives led by former attorney general Eric Holder pored over documents and conducted interviews with potential vice presidential selections.
And Harris herself met with her three finalists on Sunday. She mulled the decision over Monday with top aides at the vice president's residence in Washington and finalized it Tuesday morning.
Walz emerged as the choice.
10:15 a.m. -- No immediate comment from Vance
Boarding his campaign plane Tuesday morning in Cincinnati for a swing through battleground states this week, Ohio Sen. JD Vance did not answer shouted questions about Harris picking Walz as her running mate.
On Tuesday, Vance was heading to Pennsylvania, where Harris planned to debut with her new running mate later in the day.
10 a.m. -- Trump attacks Walz in a fundraising email
Donald Trump sent a fundraising email calling Walz "Dangerously Liberal" and saying he would "unleash HELL ON EARTH."
Moments after Harris' VP pick became public, the former president and Republican nominee said Walz would be the worst vice president in history, claiming the Minnesota governor would "light TRILLIONS of dollars on fire" and open U.S. borders to criminals.
"HE'S THAT BAD," the email says.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
9:25 a.m. -- GOP reacts: DeSantis says 'most left-wing ticket'
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called it the "most left-wing ticket in American history" and accused Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz of not doing enough to protect Minnesota during the 2020 protests over the killing of George Floyd.
He said "Walz sat by and let Minneapolis burn."
9 a.m. -- Harris picks Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate
Vice President Kamala Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate on Tuesday, according to three people who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
In choosing Walz, she is turning to a Midwestern governor, military veteran and union supporter who helped enact an ambitious Democratic agenda for his state, including sweeping protections for abortion rights and generous aid to families.
STEPHEN MATUREN/AFP via Getty Images
Walz beat out Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, who are generally seen as more moderate than the progressive Walz.
Harris, second gentleman Doug Emhoff and Walz are set to appear together for an evening rally in Philadelphia. After Tuesday's trip to Pennsylvania, they will spend the next five days flying thousands of miles around the country touring critical battleground states.
Harris hopes to shore up her campaign's standing across the upper Midwest, a critical region in presidential politics that often serves as a buffer for Democrats seeking the White House.
Walz, 60, is joining Harris during one of the most turbulent periods in modern American politics, promising an unpredictable campaign ahead. Republicans have rallied around Trump after his attempted assassination in July. Just weeks later, President Joe Biden ended his reelection campaign.
Walz most recently made headlines for calling Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, "just weird" in an MSNBC interview last month. Democrats began applying the label with gusto in interviews and online. During a fundraiser for Harris on Monday in Minneapolis, Walz said: "It wasn't a slur to call these guys weird. It was an observation."
8:45 a.m. -- Harris has decided on a running mate, sources tell AP
Vice President Kamala Harris has decided on a running mate and an announcement is expected in the coming hours before the two appear together at a Philadelphia rally, according to three people familiar with her decision.
In recent days, she has zeroed in on a trio of potential finalists: Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. It wasn't clear yet who she picked.
The people were familiar with her plans but spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to discuss a decision that had not been publicly announced.
Harris' campaign planned to make the announcement via video message before the rally, though the exact timing remained unclear, according to a person involved in the planning who spoke on the condition of anonymity to detail discussions occurring behind closed doors.
1010 WINS contributed to this report.
