If Minnesota Governor Tim Walz wasn’t on your radar before Vice President Kamala Harris chose him as her running mate, you’re not alone. A recent national NPR/PBS/Marist poll, conducted before Harris made her selection, revealed that 71% of Americans either hadn’t heard of Walz or had no opinion of him. Among those who did have an opinion, 17% viewed him favorably while 12% saw him negatively.
In comparison, 53% of respondents said they were unfamiliar with Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro—the other top contender for Harris’ running mate—while 25% had a favorable view of Shapiro and 23% viewed him unfavorably.
This means both political parties will need to quickly introduce and define Walz to the public as many voters encounter him for the first time.
In his home state of Minnesota, however, Walz enjoys solid popularity. According to a July Morning Consult poll of governors, 54% of Minnesota voters approved of his performance, while 40% disapproved.
In contrast, Shapiro’s approval rating in Pennsylvania was slightly higher at 56% approval and 31% disapproval in the same survey.
JD Vance’s popularity has declined since his selection
Nationally, Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance has seen a dip in popularity since being chosen as former President Donald Trump’s running mate. The NPR/PBS/Marist poll found that 34% of adults view Vance favorably, compared to 43% who view him unfavorably, resulting in a net rating of minus-9 points. Additionally, 23% of respondents are either unfamiliar with Vance or uncertain about him.
This represents a decline from July’s NPR/PBS/Marist poll, conducted shortly after Vance’s selection, which showed him at 28% favorable and 31% unfavorable (a minus-3 net rating).
A turbulent month and a shifting race
Harris’ selection of Walz as her running mate adds to the recent turmoil in the presidential race. Over the past month, the race has seen an assassination attempt on Trump, the Republican convention, and President Joe Biden’s exit from the 2024 campaign.
Overall, the 2024 race has shifted significantly from a scenario where Biden was trailing to one where the political environment has improved for Democrats, though the contest remains competitive according to recent public polling.