Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), the Republican vice-presidential nominee, made a point of reaching out to congratulate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) after Vice President Harris named Walz as her running mate. Vance shared with reporters, during a stop in Philadelphia, that he called Walz while on his way to the airport in Cincinnati, although he wasn’t able to reach him directly.
“I left a voicemail for Tim Walz, congratulating him and saying I look forward to a lively conversation and wished him well on this journey,” Vance explained, noting that he’s unsure if Walz will return the call.
JD Vance leaves voicemail for Tim Walz, wishing him well and expecting a spirited campaign
Earlier that day, Walz was officially selected to join Harris on the Democratic ticket, a decision that capped off his rapid rise to national attention in just a couple of weeks. Other contenders for the position had included Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) and Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).
In addition to his congratulatory message, Vance also criticized the Harris-Walz ticket, suggesting that it aligns too closely with far-left ideologies. He further condemned some of the criticisms aimed at Shapiro as antisemitic, believing they were unfairly leveraged by activists.
The formation of the Harris-Walz ticket came together swiftly, following President Biden’s announcement that he would not seek re-election. This left the Trump campaign, and Vance in particular, scrambling as they had expected a different Democratic lineup.
For progressives, Walz’s selection as Harris’s running mate is seen as a huge victory, fulfilling hopes that either he or Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) would be chosen.
