Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the upcoming presidential election, according to four sources close to the decision process.

Governor Walz, a former educator currently serving his second term, also chairs the Democratic Governors Association. Before his tenure as governor, he represented a conservative-leaning rural district in Congress for 12 years, a district largely dominated by Republicans before and after his term.

Recently, Walz has gained attention for his sharp criticisms of the Republican presidential ticket, consisting of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance. Walz notably labeled them as “weird dudes” and has been vocal about opposing their political agenda, a stance that has resonated with many Democrats and irked Republicans.

Walz’s comments have become a central meme in the Harris campaign, reflecting a more aggressive post-Biden strategy. His phrase “weird dudes” has been widely circulated, contributing to the campaign’s new dynamic.

During a recent “White Dudes for Harris” fundraiser, Walz passionately advocated for Harris, emphasizing the historic significance of their campaign.

“How often in 100 days do you get to change the trajectory of the world? How often in 100 days do you get to do something that’s going to impact generations to come?” Walz asked the crowd. “And how often in the world do you make that bastard wake up afterwards and know that a Black woman kicked his a**, sent him on the road?”

The selection of Walz as Harris’s running mate is expected to energize the Democratic base and attract a diverse coalition of voters as the campaign progresses toward the election.