WASHINGTON (CITC) — The leaders of the nation's two largest teachers unions applauded the addition of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to the Democratic presidential ticket Tuesday.
Vice President Kamala Harris selected Walz as her running mate after weeks of vetting numerous candidates. Other reported contenders for the position included Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro,U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
While announcing the news, Harris touted Walz's previous experience as a social studies teacher and football coach. Both the governor and his wife previously taught at a high school in Mankato, Minn.
American Federation of Teachers (AFT) president Randi Weingarten and National Education Association (NEA) president Becky Pringle also latched onto Walz's education background Tuesday morning.
"Inspired Choice!!! Gov Walz represents America," Weingarten wrote on X. "A social studies teacher and veteran from rural Minn."
The AFT president later pointed to Walz's efforts to boost funding for public schools as proof of his "exemplary record."
Pringle declared shortly after news of the selection broke that educators are "fired up and united" over a Harris-Walz ticket.
"Walz successfully passed legislation providing free school meals to every Minnesota student, ensuring no child will have to learn on an empty stomach," she added. "He increased education spending by billions of dollars, raised teacher pay, enacted paid family and medical leave for all families, provided unemployment insurance to hourly school workers, and expanded the collective bargaining rights of Minnesotans."
Both NEA and AFT extended endorsements to Harris after she launched her campaign, with the vice president speaking at the latter's annual convention late last month.
While celebrating Tuesday, Walz called it "the honor of a lifetime" to join Harris's campaign, noting the vice president is "showing us the politics of what's possible."
"It reminds me a bit of the first day of school," he said.
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