“Who’s that?” was the reaction of many in the Pittsburgh region after news broke that Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had won the Democratic veepstakes over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
But voters told TribLive they were more focused on winning the November election than having a Pennsylvanian as second in line to lead the nation beginning in January.
“I’m all in,” said Randi Watson of Brackenridge.
A self-described informed citizen, Watson subscribes to several political blogs and follows national news. She admittedly doesn’t know too much about Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, but is pleased with his progressive record.
Walz is a staunch LGBTQ+ ally and his addition to the ticket could mean continued levels of representation in government if the pair wins in November.
“I’m sick of older white men running the show but I did some research and I like what I saw. I know they won’t roll back health coverage,” Watson said. “I want them to keep things in place and my expectation is for them to carry on with what Biden has already started.”
Tosha Arnold, 42, of Greensburg, said she thought Shapiro would have been a better choice as she doesn’t know much about Walz.
Arnold said she supports Harris, in part, because “I don’t see why men are allowed to tell women what to do with their bodies,” Arnold said.
Springdale resident Bill Hvizdos is not a fan of Harris, and said if he was making the vice presidential pick, he would’ve went with Shapiro.
“As long as (Walz) doesn’t follow Kamala straight down the line, it’ll be OK,” he said.
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“I think Shapiro is good for Pennsylvania,” Adams said. “I don’t know about Walz that well.”
Tarentum resident Dave Rankin also said he would’ve been pleased with a Shapiro pick.
“I don’t know too much about Walz but I know this country is in such deep turmoil,” Rankin said. “We need to be unified.”
For 62-year-old Rose May of Greensburg, Harris’ selection of Walz as her vice presidential candidate is something that should be left up to the voters, just as Pennsylvanians vote for the lieutenant governor.
“The people should have a say in who the vice president is. I think it is wrong” to leave it up to one person to decide who will be the vice president, May said.
Regardless of the vice presidential picks of either party, May won’t be switching her support from Republican nominee Donald Trump.
“I would not vote for (Harris). I believe Trump needs to be in the White House,” said May, a registered Republican who voted for Trump each time he has run for president.