Tim Walz’s Vice Presidential Win Would Make History in an Unexpected Way

Mar. 15, 2025

Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Governor Tim Walz.Photo:Alex Kormann/Star Tribune/GettyIf Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is voted the next vice president of the United States, it will trigger a milestone moment for representation back in his home state.On Tuesday, Aug. 6, Democratic presidential nomineeKamala Harrischose the Minnesota governorto be her running matein the 2024 presidential election.  If Harris wins in November, Walz would resign from his current role before getting sworn in as vice president and, according to theMinnesota Constitution, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan would take his place at the helm of the North Star State.Flanagan, who assumed the office of lieutenant governor alongside Walz in 2019, would then become Minnesota’s first female governor — and the first Native woman to govern a U.S. state.Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.STEPHEN MATUREN/AFP via GettyAt 44 years old, Flanagan has already made history. Upon getting elected to her current title, she became the “country’s highest ranking Native woman elected to executive office,” according toher government page.She is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and opened up toTeen Voguein 2018 about her history-making election, saying, “I have a responsibility, especially because of those who came before me and cleared a path, to do good for my people.“At the time, she also spoke optimistically about the future of Indigenous communities in Minnesota and said, “I think we are living in a really, really exciting time.“During Flanagan’s time in office, she has focused on children, working families, people of color and other underrepresented communities. Her bio states that she established the country’s first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office, increased the Minnesota Family Investment Program payments and secured investments in affordable housing and child care.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Flanagan shared her support for Walz throughout thevice presidential nomination processin recent weeks,writing on Instagramin late July that he’s “a good man and I’m grateful to be his friend.“After Flanagan was confirmed as Harris' VP pick, sheshareda photo of herself and him on Instagram with the caption, “I’ve been friends with Tim Walz for almost 20 years. And for more than five years, he’s been my partner in justice at the Minnesota Capitol. He has the grit and the grace to keep our country moving forward alongside Kamala Harris.”

Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan and Governor Tim Walz.Photo:Alex Kormann/Star Tribune/Getty

Alex Kormann/Star Tribune/Getty

If Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is voted the next vice president of the United States, it will trigger a milestone moment for representation back in his home state.On Tuesday, Aug. 6, Democratic presidential nomineeKamala Harrischose the Minnesota governorto be her running matein the 2024 presidential election.  If Harris wins in November, Walz would resign from his current role before getting sworn in as vice president and, according to theMinnesota Constitution, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan would take his place at the helm of the North Star State.Flanagan, who assumed the office of lieutenant governor alongside Walz in 2019, would then become Minnesota’s first female governor — and the first Native woman to govern a U.S. state.Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.STEPHEN MATUREN/AFP via GettyAt 44 years old, Flanagan has already made history. Upon getting elected to her current title, she became the “country’s highest ranking Native woman elected to executive office,” according toher government page.She is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and opened up toTeen Voguein 2018 about her history-making election, saying, “I have a responsibility, especially because of those who came before me and cleared a path, to do good for my people.“At the time, she also spoke optimistically about the future of Indigenous communities in Minnesota and said, “I think we are living in a really, really exciting time.“During Flanagan’s time in office, she has focused on children, working families, people of color and other underrepresented communities. Her bio states that she established the country’s first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office, increased the Minnesota Family Investment Program payments and secured investments in affordable housing and child care.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Flanagan shared her support for Walz throughout thevice presidential nomination processin recent weeks,writing on Instagramin late July that he’s “a good man and I’m grateful to be his friend.“After Flanagan was confirmed as Harris' VP pick, sheshareda photo of herself and him on Instagram with the caption, “I’ve been friends with Tim Walz for almost 20 years. And for more than five years, he’s been my partner in justice at the Minnesota Capitol. He has the grit and the grace to keep our country moving forward alongside Kamala Harris.”

If Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is voted the next vice president of the United States, it will trigger a milestone moment for representation back in his home state.

On Tuesday, Aug. 6, Democratic presidential nomineeKamala Harrischose the Minnesota governorto be her running matein the 2024 presidential election.  If Harris wins in November, Walz would resign from his current role before getting sworn in as vice president and, according to theMinnesota Constitution, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan would take his place at the helm of the North Star State.

Flanagan, who assumed the office of lieutenant governor alongside Walz in 2019, would then become Minnesota’s first female governor — and the first Native woman to govern a U.S. state.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.STEPHEN MATUREN/AFP via Getty

STEPHEN MATUREN/AFP via Getty

At 44 years old, Flanagan has already made history. Upon getting elected to her current title, she became the “country’s highest ranking Native woman elected to executive office,” according toher government page.

She is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and opened up toTeen Voguein 2018 about her history-making election, saying, “I have a responsibility, especially because of those who came before me and cleared a path, to do good for my people.”

At the time, she also spoke optimistically about the future of Indigenous communities in Minnesota and said, “I think we are living in a really, really exciting time.”

During Flanagan’s time in office, she has focused on children, working families, people of color and other underrepresented communities. Her bio states that she established the country’s first Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives Office, increased the Minnesota Family Investment Program payments and secured investments in affordable housing and child care.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Flanagan shared her support for Walz throughout thevice presidential nomination processin recent weeks,writing on Instagramin late July that he’s “a good man and I’m grateful to be his friend.”

After Flanagan was confirmed as Harris' VP pick, sheshareda photo of herself and him on Instagram with the caption, “I’ve been friends with Tim Walz for almost 20 years. And for more than five years, he’s been my partner in justice at the Minnesota Capitol. He has the grit and the grace to keep our country moving forward alongside Kamala Harris.”

source: people.com