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Gov. Tim Walz
Dana Ferguson
Bloomington, Minn.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz coy on VP vetting, says attention is surreal

a man speaks at a podium
Gov. Tim Walz addressed reporters' questions on Thursday, about his potential consideration for Kamala Harris' vice presidential pick during an unrelated news conference in Bloomington.
Dana Ferguson | MPR News

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is still playing coy about his prospects of joining the Democratic ticket as Kamala Harris’ vice presidential pick.

In public remarks Thursday after an unrelated press conference, Walz didn’t acknowledge being in the final mix. But he said it’s been surreal being part of a shortlist of candidates considered.

Walz avoided questions about whether Harris’ campaign is vetting him for the post or requesting an interview.

“I don’t know if every high school geography teacher expects to be in this position at some point. But it is very strange to be running on my treadmill and have people talking about the things that are there and, and scream back, ‘This guy is too old,’” he said during an unrelated news conference in Bloomington. “I’m running my butt off here on the treadmill.”

Walz, a two-term governor and former six-term congressman, is said to be among a group of Democratic governors, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, in the running. Harris’ campaign is also considering U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, of Arizona days ahead of an expected announcement.

Walz encouraged Harris to pick a Democratic governor. As chair of the Democratic Governors Association, he said a governor could be a strong running mate. He didn’t say whether he viewed himself as a strong candidate.

“I’m not interviewing for anything, I’m just am who I am and put it out there,” Walz said. “I think that’s a decision that needs to be made by the vice president, and she will make it (based) on what she sees.”

Harris, who could be declared the official Democratic nominee by Monday, is expected to announce her pick in the coming days. That person will make the rounds with her next week on a five-day tour through several swing states, including an event in neighboring Wisconsin on Wednesday.

Walz has made the rounds appearing on national television outlets for interviews this week and distinguished himself for branding former President Donald Trump’s policy platforms as “weird.” It’s a line that landed and that other Democrats have repeated, while Republicans have attempted to deflect the moniker.