Senator Joe Manchin, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, praised the choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as a vice presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, Republican political candidates from West Virginia blasted the pick.
Walz, a military veteran, teacher and former member of Congress, has served as Minnesota’s governor since 2019. The Democratic nominee for president, Kamala Harris, chose Walz as her running mate today.
Manchin has been critical of Harris, saying her record is too far to the left, and at one point briefly considered challenging her for the Democratic presidential nomination. Manchin, a couple of weeks ago, suggested better candidates for president would be Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro or Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, each of whom the Harris campaign wound up vetting as a possible running mate.
As it turns out, Harris picked Walz. Manchin issued a statement in support.
“My friend Governor Tim Walz will bring normality back to the most chaotic political environment that most of us have ever seen. All of the candidates were strong and any one of them would have been a great pick, but I can think of no one better than Governor Walz to help bring our country closer together and bring balance back to the Democratic Party. Governor Walz is the real deal. I look forward to continuing to work with him to bring normalcy back to Washington,” Manchin stated.
West Virginia’s Democratic Party also lauded the Walz selection.
“Governor Walz has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to improving the lives of everyday Americans. His experience as a public servant, from his time as a congressman to his role as Governor of Minnesota, showcases his dedication to education, healthcare, and economic growth,” said state Democratic Party Chairman Mike Pushkin in a statement distributed by the party.
“Tim Walz’s proven ability to bring people together and tackle pressing issues with practical solutions aligns perfectly with the values we hold dear in West Virginia. I am confident that his partnership on the ticket will bring a renewed sense of hope and progress to our nation.”
The statement from West Virginia Democrats included comments from Troy Miller, a candidate for House of Delegates and a delegate to the upcoming Democratic National Convention. “Vice President Harris’ choice of Governor Walz shows that her administration will strongly support education, healthcare, and working families,” he said.
Progressives hailed the Walz pick because of his record as governor in Minnesota.
Republicans in West Virginia blasted the choice for the same reasons.
Gov. Jim Justice, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, posted on social media “Kamala Harris’s selection of Tim Walz as her running mate makes it clear Democrats are doubling down on a radical left agenda that doesn’t reflect the values of most Americans. We must elect the Trump-Vance ticket to Make America Great Again!”
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the Republican nominee for governor, posted “The Harris/Walz ticket is an unmitigated disaster for Appalachia and our energy jobs. West Virginia and Pennsylvania have yet another compelling reason to support the Trump/Vance ticket. #Trump2024″