With a net approval rate of 13 percent, Democratic nominee for the vice presidency, Tim Walz, is only the 36th most popular governor in the country. He currently is the first in command in Minnesota. Other governors who were reportedly being considered for Kamala Harris' running mate in the upcoming 2024 election are much more popular at home, namely Andy Beshear, who has a net approval rate of 40 percent in Kentucky, and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, who places 16th with a net approval of 25 percent. This is according to data collected by Morning Consult.
However, Walz finally was the favorite - according to NBC - as he and Harris got along best in person and the Democratic nominee for president felt that he was best suited for a role of supporting the president loyally. Walz, who has military experience in the Army National Guard, worked a blue collar job in addition to having been a teacher and is a gun-owning hunter, is hoped to appeal to moderates and voters from non-coastal states and therefore complement Harris' profile. Voters describe Walz as "normal" and "genuine", but his policies are progressive despite his regular guy image, which might have also endeared him to Harris and her campaign. However, Walz's stance has also caused pushback among more conservative voters in Minnesota, resulting in a lowish net approval. Additionally, he has been criticized both for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the protest that followed the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis in 2020.
