Gov. Tim Walz, who is currently Kamala Harris’ vice presidential running mate, has a background in the military that has recently come under scrutiny. In 2005, despite an announcement from the Army National Guard about a possible deployment to Iraq, Walz refused to drop out of his congressional race.
Walz had served in the Army National Guard for 24 years before retiring in 2005. He decided to run for Congress in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District that same year and was successfully elected in November 2006.
When the guard announced a potential deployment to Iraq within two years in March 2005, Walz's campaign released a statement indicating his intention to stay in the race. He expressed his commitment to serving his country, whether in Washington DC or Iraq, and stated that he had no plans to drop out of the race.
Walz officially retired from the Army National Guard in May 2005, although the exact date of when he submitted his retirement paperwork remains unclear. In a 2009 interview, Walz mentioned that he left the Guard to focus entirely on his congressional campaign, citing concerns about balancing military service and political activities under the Hatch Act.
It is important to note that the Harris campaign did not provide immediate clarification on the timeline of when Walz submitted his retirement paperwork. This situation sheds light on the complexities of individuals transitioning from military service to political endeavors and the various considerations involved in such decisions.
