Harris and Walz inspire Philadelphia and criticize Trump and Vance campaign
Kamala Harris introduced Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate before a roaring crowd in Philadelphia, whereupon the two took swipes at Donald Trump.
Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly crowned running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, will visit Phoenix this week as part of a tour of swing states.
It will be one of their first joint appearances on the campaign trail since Harris selected Walz from a shortlist of candidates that included Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona).
Democrats in Arizona, including Kelly, praised Walz as a unifying choice and an effective ambassador for the party’s priorities, while Republicans called him a “dangerous liberal extremist.”
This event puts Harris on track to break the record for most visits to the Grand Canyon State in the run-up to a presidential election.
Here’s what you need to know about Harris and Walz’s upcoming visit to Arizona.
Where in Arizona will Harris and Walz visit?
Harris and Walz will hold a rally in Phoenix. The campaign team has not yet announced the exact location.
Their visit is part of a tour of seven swing states. The couple debuted in Philadelphia on Tuesday and have stops planned in Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada for the rest of the week.
Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio), the Republican vice presidential candidate, will complement that itinerary with a tour of his own, stopping in many of the swing states to speak to the media and confront Harris on the Republicans’ top issues: crime, the economy and immigration.
When is the Harris-Walz rally in Phoenix?
According to Harris’ campaign team, the rally will take place on Friday evening. A specific time has not yet been announced.
Who is Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate?
Walz was elected the 41st Governor of Minnesota and began his term in 2019.
Walz, 60, brings political acumen, suburban and rural appeal and progressive patriotism to a campaign where all three are seen as helping Democrats secure a victory in 2024 against the Republicans led by former President Donald Trump and Republican Senator JD Vance of Ohio.
Walz, a war veteran, former public school teacher and six-term member of Congress, is currently completing the sixth year of his eight-year term as governor of the North Star State.
He was born in West Point, Nebraska, and grew up in Valentine, Nebraska. He joined the National Guard at age 17 and served for 24 years. He earned a degree in social sciences from Chadron State College in 1989 and a Master of Science in educational administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2001.
He then served as a U.S. Representative for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District and served six terms in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019.
As Harris considered her choice of vice presidential candidate, Walz attracted attention with his blunt manner and his denunciation of Republicans as “weird” — a message that resonated with much of the Democratic base.
How are politicians in Arizona reacting to Walz’s candidacy?
Kelly, who was considered as Harris’ running mate, congratulated Walz on his selection.
“They are already building a campaign to unite our country,” Kelly wrote, saying the slate would “move us forward.”
Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona called Walz a “true public servant” who “has been successful in achieving results for working people across party lines.”
Republicans have now described Walz as a “dangerous liberal extremist.”
Former President Donald Trump’s campaign focused on the 2020 unrest that rocked Minneapolis following the killing of George Floyd by a white police officer, as well as Walz’s efforts during his term as governor to reduce Minnesota’s carbon emissions and his support for a law that gave convicted felons the right to vote after serving their prison sentences.
How many times did Harris visit Arizona during the election cycle?
With her visit on Friday, Harris will set the record for most visits to the Grand Canyon State during an election year and the previous year, according to a count of visits by The Arizona Republic’s presidential and vice presidential candidates since 1996.
Harris has visited Arizona seven times since the beginning of 2023, and the general election in November is three months away.
Before the 2016 election, Trump visited Arizona seven times. Before the 2020 election, Trump and then-Vice President Mike Pence visited Arizona another seven times.
Harris last visited Arizona in late June to attend an event marking the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s reversal of the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade.
The USA Today network contributed to this report.
