Pritzker praises VP Harris' pick of MN Gov. Tim Walz as running mate, calls him a 'good friend'
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who was on Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris' VP shortlist, is praising the vice president's pick of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz to be her running mate.
Governor Pritzker called Walz a "proven leader who brings to public service the big heart and hard work of a Midwesterner. His unwavering commitment to improving the lives of working families and to lifting up the most vulnerable is why I'm so excited he will be the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President.
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Walz landed on the national stage after impressing many Democrats with his plain-spoken Midwestern demeanor. The 60-year-old grew up on a farm and spent years in the Army National Guard before becoming a social studies teacher, football coach, congressman, governor and now vice presidential candidate.
He is a kind and decent human being," Pritzker said. "Tim Walz cares deeply about the work that he does and every person he interacts with."
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Pritzker said he and Walz became good friends after they were both elected to their first term as governor in 2018.
"We hit it off immediately. We have each other's cell phone numbers. We talk to each other on a fairly frequent basis," the governor said.
Alongside Walz, Pritzker was on Harris' final list of six choices for the nation's second-highest office, and said while he was honored to be on it, he admitted the vetting process from her campaign was detailed and grueling.
"You don't get on that list unless they think you actually could be president of the United States and do the job if you had to," he said.
Sources close to the deliberations said Gov. Walz was chosen because of his relatability along with his progressive policies when it comes to police reform as a former member of Congress, he can also be an asset on Capitol Hill.
"Harris need some balance in terms of having a white male who may be more approachable who may make some white voters feel more comfortable," ABC7 Political Aalsy Laura Washington said. "He's folksy, people like him and he knows how to go on the attack. He's already shown that in his television interviews and she's going to need that kind of support.
The Trump-Vance campaign wasted no time attacking Governor Walz as the Democratic presidential vice president choice, calling him a leftist who embraces a liberal agenda.
During a campaign stop in Philadelphia, hours before Harris and Walz make their debut in the same city, Republican vice-presidential nominee JD Vance ripped into the Minnesota governor.
"Tim Walz record is a joke, he has been one of the most far left radicals in the entire U.S. government at any level," Vance said.
And the Illinois Republican Party released a statement, saying in part "Vice President Harris's pick reflects the agenda she intends to bring to this nation: another radical leftist from a deep blue state who will continue the disastrous Bidenomics policies crippling the nation's economy as we speak."
But Walz also wasted little time, attacking Trump.
"He doesn't know the first thing about service. He doesn't have time for it because he's too busy serving himself," Walz said.
And while Republicans try to paint Walz as a far-left radical, Democrats are trying to set his record straight. Illinois Democrat Rep. Mike Quigley served with Walz in Congress for 10 years.
"He was only the second Democrat to win in Congress from his seat since 1890," Quigley said.
Quigley said appealing to swing state voters in working class areas is one of Walz's strength. As governor, he was one of the first in the country to defend choice after Roe v. Wade was overturned, and signed into law free breakfast for school kids, but Quigley said he's not a far leftist.
"He also signed a bill that was the largest tax cuts in Minnesota history. So I think it's gonna be tough for them to label him," Quigley said.
Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates released a statement on the pick saying, "We couldn't be more thrilled that Kamala Harris chose a high school social studies teacher as her running mate. Tim Walz has a strong record of delivering for students, teachers, and parents in Minnesota, whether it's increasing funding to public schools, expanding wrap-around services for students, supporting paraprofessionals, funding free breakfast, investing in public schools, protecting DEI initiatives, or protecting reproductive freedom. As a high school history teacher and former coach myself, I know that Walz is aware of the struggles that students face and has shown that he's not afraid to stand up and fight for them - even if it means challenging the wealthy and powerful. Tim Walz will make an already strong ticket even stronger, and educators are looking forward to fighting for a future where our schools are fully funded, where we strengthen public education and our Democracy in the months ahead."
