Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic vice presidential nominee, has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Walz has become a controversial figure for signing Minnesota’s Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act into law; the law stipulates a “fundamental right” to abortion without limitations or safeguards. Characterized by critics as radical and inhumane, the law permits abortions even during the late stages of pregnancy, when fetuses are viable and can experience pain. It also denies parents the right to know if their underage daughter is seeking an abortion.
Walz’s decision follows suit with Harris’s consistent pro-choice stance. Harris has refused to outline any limitations on abortion she supports and co-sponsored legislation to enforce all-trimester abortions across all 50 states. The proposed Women’s Health Protection Act, which Harris was an early sponsor of, would strip pro-life states of their protections for unborn babies and mandate all-trimester abortion laws in each state.
In Congress, Harris voted against legislation aimed at protecting babies who can feel pain and those born alive after failed abortions. Her stance on these issues is not in line with most Minnesotans or Americans, as polls suggest only 30 percent of Minnesotans believe abortion should always be legal.