Sanders backs Walz in Harris veepstakes: He will ‘speak up’ for working people

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) put his support behind Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as Vice President Harris’s potential running mate, saying he will be the one to “speak up” for the working class.

“I had the opportunity to talk to your governor a few days ago and I am very impressed by him,” Sanders said Saturday in an interview with Minnesota Public Radio. “I think you have an excellent governor who understands the needs of working families.”

“So, I hope very much that the vice president elects a running mate who will speak up and take on powerful corporate interests,” he continued. “And I think Tim Walz is somebody who could do that.”

Sanders is in Minnesota for voter turnout efforts supporting Rep. Ilhan Omar (D). He hosted a town hall in Mankato, Minn., focused on working-class voters.

The Vermont senator previously withheld his endorsement of Harris, arguing he wanted to see the vice president provide more specific commitment on issues important to the working class. Sanders, who ran against Harris and President Biden in 2020, said he wanted to help shape her campaign before offering his support.

In his interview Saturday, Sanders said he will do “everything I can” to help Harris beat former President Trump in November. That, he said, is also part of the reason he is visiting the North Star State.

“I think she has a strong record to run on along with President Biden and I think and believe that she is going to be speaking out not only on issues of climate change, not only on issues of women having the right to control their own bodies, not only protecting our democracy, but the needs of working families,” he said.

Walz is one of the shortlisted candidates to join Harris on the ballot this fall. First elected to Congress in 2006, Walz served in Congress for 12 years before heading back to Minnesota.

House Democrats, and progressives in particular, are pulling for their colleague because his Midwestern roots and military background complement Harris well.

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) also signaled that Walz was an appealing choice because of his track record backing labor unions and working families. She said she wants someone who is prolabor because winning working-class votes is important.

Walz has been gaining national attention as Harris’s rumored pick, especially since his blue-leaning state is a critical one that Democrats want to keep in the upcoming election.

The Minnesota Governor said it was “an honor” to be considered for the position. Harris has yet to make an announcement but revealed she would be hitting the campaign trail with her running mate next week.