Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz Named Running Mate for Vice President Harris

Walz signed the Protect Reproductive Options Act in January 2023

St. Paul, MN— Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been named the running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election. Gov. Walz has proved to be a staunch champion for reproductive freedom, signing the Protect Reproductive Options Act into law in January, 2023. He has also made it clear that everyone is welcome in Minnesota to make the health care decisions best for their bodies and futures.

Governor Walz joins roundtable at Planned Parenthood health center in Saint Paul, MN in January 2024 with Ruth Richardson, PPNCS President and CEO, Lt. Governor Flanagan, and Planned Parenthood staff.

 “It is a joy to see Governor Walz on the national ticket,” said Tim Stanley, executive director of Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota Action Fund. “For decades, Tim Walz has boldly championed reproductive freedom. As governor he signed laws codifying the right to abortion, protecting providers and patients who travel to Minnesota for care, making health care more accessible and affordable, and investing in children and families. He consistently shows up for all Minnesotans and neighbors to say: you’re welcome in our state.”

 Both Governor Walz and Vice President Harris have toured the St. Paul Planned Parenthood health center. The Vice President joined Governor Walz during her historic visit to the St. Paul Planned Parenthood in March of this year as the first sitting vice president to go a health center that provides abortions. The stop was her sixth in her nationwide “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour. Vice President Harris also rejected proposals to enact a national abortion ban, while outlining the administration’s work to safeguard reproductive freedom since the overturning of Roe v. Wade over two years ago.

"Abortion is on the ballot this November and a Harris-Walz ticket is exactly what our country needs,” said Stanley. “Harris and Walz will fight for every person’s right to make the best decision for their body and future. They will invest in American families. They will fight for our future.” 

 Bills signed by Governor Walz include:

• The Protect Reproductive Options Act (PRO Act) ensuring that all Minnesotans are free to make their own reproductive health care decisions. This includes the right to contraception, the right to carry a pregnancy to term, the right to fertility treatment, and the right to an abortion.
• The Reproductive Freedom Defense Act protecting patients who travel to Minnesota and the providers who help them access the health care they need.
• The Paid Family Medical Leave Act creating a state paid family and medical leave program that provides partial wage replacement for 12-20 weeks of leave in a 52-week period for medical leave, bonding, or caring for a family member.
• The Protect Access to Contraceptives Act requiring all state-regulated health plans cover FDA-approved contraceptives, counseling, and follow-up services with no out-of-pocket costs and expanding mandatory insurance coverage for birth control to 12 months.
• The Dignity in Childbirth and Pregnancy Act to reduce disparities impacting mothers and babies by requiring hospitals that provide obstetric care and birth centers to supply continuing education on implicit bias and anti-racism training and improving the availability of doulas and midwives in communities impacted by the most significant disparities.
• The African American Family Preservation Act aiming to increase protections for families who are disproportionately facing separation through the foster care system.

Paid for by Planned Parenthood of Minnesota Political Action Fund, 671 Vandalia Street, St. Paul, MN 55114 and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

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Founded in 2003, the Planned Parenthood of Minnesota Political Action Fund (PPMPAF) is focused on electing reproductive and sexual health champions. The political work of PPMPAF helps Planned Parenthood North Central States care for its patients and educate the community by ensuring our elected in state and national legislatures will protect and strengthen access to patient-focused health care, increase access to inclusive, medically accurate sexuality education, and support laws Minnesotans need to thrive.