FRANKFORT, Ky. — Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen a running mate in her bid for president, but it won't be a familiar face to Kentuckians.

What You Need To Know

  • Vice President Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate 

  • Walz edged out a crowded field of possible running mates, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear  

  • Beshear told reporters he was honored to go through the process 

  • Republicans in Kentucky's congressional delegation slammed Harris and Walz as "extreme liberals"

The Harris campaign announced Tuesday, Aug. 6 the vice president has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate against the GOP ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Walz was selected over a crowded field of potential running mates, including Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.

Speaking with reporters at the state Capitol, Beshear said he’s behind the Harris/Walz ticket and defeating Trump in November with "veepstakes" over.

“Tim Walz is a good guy and friend," Beshear said. "This is a guy who’s a teacher, football coach, helped run the lunchroom in his school. He is a public educator, and that ought to mean something to everybody out there." 

Beshear said he looks forward to working with Harris and Walz if they’re elected in November. 

“The Tim Walz that I know is going to be able to help her everywhere, from the blue counties to the red counties to everywhere in between," Beshear said.

Kentucky’s lone Democratic congressman, Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, said the possibility of Beshear serving as VP excited him but applauded Harris’ pick of Walz.

“I think it continues the energy and momentum that Kamala Harris has, and I think we’re going to carry that momentum into the fall and defeat Donald Trump and his MAGA extremists," McGarvey said.

Spectrum News 1 asked Beshear if he'd consider a position in a potential Harris administration cabinet. He did not outright say "yes" or "no," but instead turned his focus to Kentucky.

“I’m happy being governor," he said. "This was an honor to go through, but this is my dream job, and I’m excited to do it for the next three and a half years. We've got a lot more work to do." 

Beshear did not discuss specifics of the interview process.

Some Republicans in Kentucky's congressional delegation also reacted to Harris selecting Walz. Rep. Andy Barr, R-Lexington, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, calling it "the most extreme left-wing ticket in American history."

Congressman Hal Rogers, R-Somerset, sent Spectrum News 1 a statement reading: “The Harris/Walz ticket is a guaranteed double portion of extreme liberal policies that will continue to drive our country out of control. Kentucky families are canceling home insurance, canceling vacations and cutting back on groceries as a result of the crippling Biden/Harris inflation rates. It’s time to put a stop to Kamala Harris’ out-of-touch policies and put the American people first again. We can’t get Trump and Vance in the White House soon enough.”

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