Harris Selects Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as Running Mate, Overlooks Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, AP Reports

WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice-presidential running mate on Tuesday, concluding an expedited vetting process that lasted less than a month.

Walz was chosen over Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, as announced by the Associated Press. The final interviews took place on Sunday.

Harris and Walz will begin a cross-country tour, starting Tuesday in Philadelphia and including a Phoenix rally planned for Friday evening.

The participation of Kelly in the Phoenix rally remains uncertain, and the exact location hasn’t been released.

Kelly, 60, boasts an impressive background. Originally from a family of New Jersey police officers, he served as a U.S. Navy combat pilot with 39 missions during the Gulf War and commanded the NASA Space Shuttle twice.

Kelly’s near-fatal assassination attempt in 2011, which seriously injured his wife Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, marked his emergence as a national public figure.

“I’ll never forget standing off the House floor as my wife returned 13 years ago today to cast her first vote since being shot,” Kelly shared on social media. “Gabby’s determination during recovery continues to inspire me.”

Post-recovery, Giffords and Kelly became prominent advocates for gun safety.

After encouragement from national Democrats, Kelly entered politics in 2019, eyeing the late Sen. John McCain’s seat, which was up for election in 2020.

Kelly, a moderate Democrat, has won two U.S. Senate elections in a key swing state and is known for his outspoken views on immigration.

Kelly has critiqued President Biden’s decision to end Title 42 as “dumb” and blamed Donald Trump for failing to support a bipartisan border security bill.

Although he has proven himself to be an adept fundraiser, raising $100 million in each of his campaigns, questions lingered about Kelly’s ability to deliver Arizona’s 11 electoral votes.

His residence in Tucson kept him outside Maricopa County’s influential media market. Competing against relatively weak Republican opponents did not fully test his electoral mettle.

Had he been selected as vice president, Kelly’s departure from the Senate would have required Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs to appoint a Democratic successor according to state law. This would trigger a special election in 2026.

Despite recent electoral victories in mid-term elections, Arizona Democrats face ongoing challenges.

Gov. Tim Walz will be formally nominated as vice president during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago from Aug. 19-22.

Early voting in Arizona starts on October 11, 66 days before the November general election.