Press Release

Governor Walz a Strong Pick for Vice President

[Washington, DC] - The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers issued the following statement following Vice President Harris’ selection of Minnesota Governor Timothy Walz as her running mate in the 2024 Presidential election:

Vice President Harris’ choice of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate makes it abundantly clear that she will continue to put working families first as President of the United States.

Governor Walz has been a champion for workers from the moment he stepped into public office – supporting the families and communities he grew up in. Walz grew up the son of an Army veteran and after high school joined the military, serving as a Command Sergeant Major in the Army National Guard. Walz then used his GI Bill benefits to attend college and became a public-school teacher and proud union member.

As Governor of Minnesota, Walz has delivered for working people, enacting some of the most pro-worker legislation of any state in the country, including:

  • Investing $2.6 billion in needed infrastructure projects around the state – creating thousands of good, family-supporting jobs paying prevailing wage.
  • Signing the largest tax cut for the middle-class in the state’s history.
  • Strengthening safety protections for workers.
  • Barring employers from holding anti-union captive audience meetings.
  • Raising pay and workplace standards for gig workers and others who are at risk as “independent contractors.”

Walz knows how to reach across the aisle to get things done in Washington. During his six terms in Congress, he represented Minnesota’s First Congressional District – a conservative-leaning area – bringing a rural prospective to progressive issues.

“Vice President Harris’ selection of Governor Walz provides a dramatic contrast to Donald Trump’s selection of JD Vance,” said BAC International President Tim Driscoll. “Walz is an authentic mid-westerner who has not forgotten his roots and works tirelessly to better the lives of working people in his state.”

"Governor Walz’s impressive track record on behalf of working families adds strength upon strength to a formidable ticket that will boldly advance the cause of workers and their unions,” said Driscoll. “BAC is proud to support the Harris-Walz ticket.”