Tim Walz is still introducing himself to voters. Here are things to know about Harris' VP pick

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kamala Harris' running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will face a national audience that's still getting to know him when he headlines the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday night.

Walz wasn't widely known outside of Minnesota before Harris chose him to join her on the Democratic presidential ticket. But they clicked when Harris interviewed him, and she was impressed by his record as a governor and congressman — and the splash he made on TV. His attack line against former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance — “These guys are just weird” — spread like a prairie fire.

Since Harris announced her pick, the campaign has raced to introduce the country to the 60-year-old governor and self-described “Midwest dad.” At the same time, Republicans have tried to deflate Walz by poking holes in his biography, and some of his past uses of imprecise language and misstatements of facts by him or staffers are resurfacing.

Here's a look at Walz as he prepares for his biggest speech of the campaign so far:

From teacher to VP pick

The Nebraska native was a geography teacher and assistant football coach at Mankato West High School in southern Minnesota before he ran for Congress and upset Republican Rep. Gil Gutknecht in 2006. He was seen as a centrist, known for his work on veterans issues. Walz was elected governor in 2018, and was reelected in 2022 in an election that gave Democrats full control of state government.

Walz and legislative leaders seized the moment to enact broad protections for abortion and trans rights. And they raised aid to families, including free school meals for all students, new tax credits for families with children, and paid family and medical leave.

Republicans say Walz took a sharp turn to the...