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Excerpt from news.google.com
Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, boasts progressive health care record
With Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris has tapped a fiery advocate for public health and abortion rights.
Harris chose Walz as her vice presidential pick Tuesday morning. The pair have less than 100 days before Election Day to rally voters to the new Democratic ticket. Walz emerged as a frontrunner for the role in part due to his record of defending abortion access, gender-affirming care, and the national Covid-19 response.
Walz was early to instate Covid-19 shutdowns and social distancing policies, earning criticism from state Republicans and then-President Trump, who tweeted “LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” in April 2020. State Republicans have since sued over his early Covid-19 response, including mask mandates and vaccine requirements for government employees.
The second-term governor and 12-year veteran of the House of Representatives is used to battling with Republicans, despite originally hailing from a mostly red-leaning eastern Minnesota district. While in Congress, Walz voted for Medicare drug price negotiation and supported medical research of cannabis and to extend Veteran Affairs’ studies of the health effects of the toxin Agent Orange.
Health care professionals and groups were top contributors to Walz’ campaigns during his time in Congress, according to campaign finance database OpenSecrets. Those included the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons; the American Health Care Association; and the American Optometric Association.
