Vice-President Kamala Harris has picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate, marking a major milestone since her move to the top of the Democratic ticket ahead of the November presidential election.

害羞草研究所淎s a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he害羞草研究所檚 delivered for working families like his,害羞草研究所� Harris posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Tuesday.

Harris formally clinched the Democratic nomination Monday and is expected to appear at a rally with Walz in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening.

Walz said it was an honour of a lifetime to join the campaign.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 all in,害羞草研究所� Walz said in a post on social media.

The search for a running mate began just two weeks ago, after President Joe Biden removed himself as the nominee amid concerns over his age and endorsed Harris.

In the turbulent days that followed, Walz received national attention for his plain-spoken television appearances, and was credited for coining the increasingly popular Democratic talking point that their Republican opponents are 害羞草研究所渏ust weird.害羞草研究所�

Walz, 60, is a military veteran, retired educator and union supporter whose state shares a 885-kilometre border with Canada.

害羞草研究所淏etween Walz and Harris害羞草研究所� background in Canada, these are two people that will have a good understanding of the relationship between the two countries,害羞草研究所� said Matthew Lebo, a specialist in U.S. politics at Western University in London, Ont.

Harris, who lived in Montreal as a teenager, is expected to be guided by Biden害羞草研究所檚 road map as she navigates America害羞草研究所檚 relationship with Canada.

Biden害羞草研究所檚 tenure has been described as more stable than his predecessor when it comes to U.S.-Canada relations, but not much different from former president Donald Trump害羞草研究所檚 administration.

Trump pushed to renegotiate of the old North American Free Trade Agreement.

It was replaced with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which Canada害羞草研究所檚 government heralded as a success, but which Harris voted against, saying it didn害羞草研究所檛 do enough to protect American workers or the environment.

Trump also introduced billions of dollars害羞草研究所� worth of tariffs, particularly on Chinese imports, and he has threatened more if he wins a second term in office.

Lebo said it害羞草研究所檚 likely Walz understands the value of trade between Canada and the United States.

The Business Council of Canada website describes the relationship with Minnesota as more than just a shared love of hockey with its neighbours to the north. Trade ties are extensive, especially when it comes to energy and agriculture.

害羞草研究所淥ntario and Minnesota do billions of dollars in two-way trade every year. We agreed on the need to protect and grow our strong economic ties, including our growing agriculture and energy sectors,害羞草研究所� Premier Doug Ford posted on social media after Walz visited Queen害羞草研究所檚 Park in June.

Walz also seems 害羞草研究所淐anadian害羞草研究所� in terms of his temperament and values, Lebo said.

害羞草研究所淢innesota may be the most Canadian-like state,害羞草研究所� Lebo said.

He has also pushed social policies in line with the current Canadian government,Lebo said.

Walz and fellow lawmakers have eliminated nearly all of the state害羞草研究所檚 abortion restrictions, protected gender-affirming care for transgender youth and legalized the recreational use of marijuana.

Minnesota Democrats also funded free school meals for children and free tuition at public colleges for students in families that earning less than $80,000 a year. Walz has been praised for putting state funds toward health insurance coverage, regardless of a person害羞草研究所檚 immigration status.

Lebo said Walz may be criticized for his response to protests after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020 and his administration害羞草研究所檚 oversight of some pandemic-era programs.

The governor, with a 害羞草研究所淢innesota nice害羞草研究所� demeanour, may help to build an important bridge between the Democrats and voters in key battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Trump won those states in 2016 and they swung to Biden in 2020.

Harris害羞草研究所檚 decision to pick Walz as her running mate shows she is looking to pull in more voted from white, working class men Lebo said. There were concerns that she would have less success with those voters than Biden, he said, and they could be critical for a Democratic win.

害羞草研究所淪he was looking for someone who might appeal to independent voters,害羞草研究所� Lebo said.

害羞草研究所� With files from The Associated Press.

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press