In a strategic move to broaden her appeal to rural, white voters, Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris announced on Tuesday that she has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. This choice highlights Harris’s commitment to progressive policies and effective governance, while also aiming to resonate with a demographic that has been pivotal in recent elections.
The announcement was made in a text message to her supporters, “I’m pleased to share that I’ve made my decision: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz will join our campaign as my running mate,” Harris stated. She praised Walz as a “battle-tested leader” with a proven track record of delivering results for Minnesota families. Harris expressed confidence that Walz would bring the same principled leadership to their campaign and, ultimately, to the office of the vice president.
Walz, a 60-year-old veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard and a former teacher, expressed his honor at being chosen. In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Walz said, “I’m all in. Vice President Harris is showing us the politics of what’s possible. It reminds me a bit of the first day of school,” indicating his enthusiasm and readiness to embark on this new political journey.
But there’s a dirty little secret about his National Guard service.
On November 2, 2018, Minnesota National Guard Leaders published a letter exposing Tim Walz for Stolen Valor. Walz lied about his rank and quit when he heard his unit was going to mobilize in Iraq.
In a detailed account, retired Command Sergeants Major of the Minnesota National Guard have accused Tim Walz of misrepresenting his military career. They assert that Walz, who reenlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard on September 18, 2001, for six years, embellished his service record and omitted significant facts.
Walz attended the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy in early 2003, agreeing to serve two years post-graduation. However, he failed to complete the course and was subsequently demoted to Master Sergeant. In late 2003, he deployed to Italy with the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion for a six-month base security mission. Upon return, he was promoted to Command Sergeant Major but was conditionally promoted, contingent upon completing his academy obligations.
In 2005, with his battalion preparing for deployment to Iraq, Walz retired, citing a desire to run for Congress. However, the Command sergeant major highlighted that Walz could have run for office without retiring, per Department of Defense regulations. His retirement was marked by incomplete paperwork, and he was officially reduced to Master Sergeant on September 10, 2005.
The Command Sergeant Major criticizes Walz for abandoning his battalion during a critical time, labeling his actions as failures to his country, state, and fellow soldiers. They emphasize that Walz did not fulfill his military commitments, including his academy completion and full enlistment term, ultimately deeming his conduct as “shameful.”
Tim Walz’s political career began in 2006 when he was elected to represent a Republican-leaning district in the U.S. House of Representatives. His ability to win and serve in a traditionally conservative area demonstrated his appeal across party lines and his knack for addressing the concerns of diverse constituents. Walz served in the House for 12 years before being elected governor of Minnesota in 2018, where he has continued to advocate for progressive policies and practical solutions.
