Kamala Harris to host Philadelphia rally after naming Walz VP pick: How to watch

Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to appear Tuesday evening for a rally in Philadelphia after the presidential candidate officially announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

News of Walz's selection for the Harris Campaign ticket broke Tuesday morning following speculation that Harris had whittled down a list of a half-dozen finalists to two potential vice presidential candidates, according to Reuters. Walz, an ardent supporter of President Joe Biden, edged out Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

The announcement comes about two weeks after President Biden ended his reelection campaign and endorsed Harris, prompting the Democratic Party to rally around the vice president.

Walz, who attended a fundraiser in Minnesota for the Harris campaign on Monday night, will now go against the Republican ticket of former President Donald Trump and and Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio.

Here's how to watch the Tuesday evening rally in Philadelphia, which will kick off a five-day tour of the swing states crucial to winning the presidential election.

2024 Presidential election: As President Joe Biden steps aside, is America ready for President Kamala Harris?

Sign up for Your Vote: Text the USA TODAY elections team your questions and get breaking news updates.

How to watch Harris' Philadelphia rally

Harris is set to host a rally at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Temple University in Philadelphia.

But ahead of the rally, the Harris Campaign formally announced Walz as Harris' running-mate by text message to supporters.

In the message sent at 10:12 a.m. ET Tuesday, Harris called Walz "a battle-tested leader who has an incredible track record of getting things done for Minnesota families.

"I know that he will bring that same principled leadership to our campaign, and to the office of the vice president,” Harris said in the message, which also asked supporters to pitch in $20 to welcome Walz on the ticket.

Watch the Philadelphia rally here:

The tour will also include stops in Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Detroit; Durham, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; Phoenix; and Las Vegas, according to Politico.

Who is Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz?

Walz, 60, is a military veteran, former public school teacher and six-term congressman who is serving the sixth year of his eight-year stint as governor of the North Star State.

Born and raised in rural Nebraska, Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard at 17 years old.

He spent the next quarter century serving his country while holding down a series of positions as a school teacher – first at a Native American reservation in South Dakota, then overseas in China, then back home in Nebraska and finally in Minnesota, where he and his family relocated in 1996.

Walz's first run for office came a decade later, in 2006.

In 2018 Walz entered the gubernatorial race after then-Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton chose not to seek reelection, defeating his Republican challenger by a wide margin. He won re-election four years later, alongside Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Nation of Ojibwe.

Walz gained national exposure when he was named co-chair of the president’s Council of Governors in 2021. Two years later, he was elected chair of the Democratic Governors Association in 2023.

Other VP finalists included Shapiro, Buttigieg

Walz was among several high-profile politicians considered by the Harris Campaign as a potential vice presidential candidate.

Among them were a number of other governors, including Shapiro, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a billionaire businessman.

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a key swing state ally, was also considered, as was U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, himself a former presidential candidate and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana.

Contributing: Sam Woodward, Joey Garrison, Melissa Cruz, Jeremy Yurow, USA TODAY

Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris, VP pick Tim Walz hold Philadelphia rally: How to watch