Gov. Tim Walz tapped in as running mate: Here’s what top Dems, Republicans are saying

Kamala Harris has picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, looking to boost Democratic support in the Midwest. 

Harris tweeted Tuesday that she was proud to announce him as her running mate. 

"As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he’s delivered for working families like his."

In a Tuesday morning post on X, 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."

The two will make their first official campaign appearance together Tuesday afternoon in Pennsylvania, the beginning of an aggressive, seven-state battleground tour that will include stops in Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada.

READ MORE: Tim Walz picked as Kamala Harris’ running mate in 2024

On the Republican side, Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance will also be in Pennsylvania Tuesday, and will reportedly make several stops in battleground cities on Harris’ trail in the coming days. 

Here’s what other top Democrats and Republicans are saying about Walz’s selection: 

Democratic response

President Joe Biden said, "The first major decision a party nominee makes is their choice for Vice President. And Kamala Harris has made a great decision in choosing Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate."

Former President Barack Obama said Walz has been an "outstanding governor" and believes he'd be "an even better vice president."

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Walz was a "great asset" to Harris' ticket. 

The high-profile names who were also in the running, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro; Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker; Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly; Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg; and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear shared their support of Harris’ selection.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who was also in talks for a pick, called Walz a "proven leader" in a statement. 

"Vice President Kamala Harris once again has proven her leadership by choosing someone our party and the nation can be proud of," he continued. You can read his full statement here.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said there wasn’t "a doubt in his mind" that a Harris-Walz ticket is "the team" that the country needs right now, and praised Walz’s leadership. 

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called Walz's leadership an "important asset" to the Democratic ticket. 

Republican response

In his first public comments since his general election foe was set, JD Vance on Tuesday called 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 Walz "is a person who listens to the Hamas wing" of the Democratic Party and "who wants to make the American people more reliant on garbage energy instead of good American energy."

Donald Trump’s campaign branded Walz as a "radical leftist" and said Walz’s governorship in Minnesota has been trying to reshape the state "in the image of" California. 

Nikki Haley said Democrats were "doubling down on the Progressive movement" with the selection. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called the Harris-Walz ticket the "most left-wing ticket in American history." 

Former GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy criticized the pick saying "Walz is a massive gift to Republicans." 

Other support

The United Auto Workers (UAW) tweeted their endorsement of Walz, just days after also voting to endorse Kamala Harris for president. 

This developing story was reported from Detroit.