How business leaders are responding to Kamala Harris selecting Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz previously served in Congress for 12 years.

Vice President Kamala Harris has selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, a decision that brings onboard a Midwesterner and former public school teacher to the national Democratic ticket.

Before his election as governor, Walz served in Congress for 12 years, and as governor, he’s signed into law a raft of Democratic priorities on everything from reproductive rights to gun control. Many Democrats believe his Nebraska upbringing and experience with rural issues will allow him to counter GOP vice-presidential nominee JD Vance on issues affecting working-class Americans.

President Joe Biden praised the governor shortly after the announcement was made, arguing that the Harris-Walz ticket would be “a powerful voice for working people.” And Democratic lawmakers from across the ideological spectrum, from Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, were largely supportive of the Walz pick.

Should Walz become vice president, he’d be an integral economic messenger in a Harris administration.

Here’s how business leaders are reacting to Harris’ selection of Walz as her running mate:

Elon Musk

Elon Musk.

Though the Tesla CEO didn’t post on X directly about Walz, Musk boosted some posts on the platform about him. Musk commented “🤔” on a post comparing the flag of Minnesota to that of Somalia, noting how Walz “turned his home state into Somalia and now he wants to do the same to our country.”

Musk also commented “!!” on a Libs of TikTok post criticizing Walz’s executive order protecting gender-affirming care.

Musk noted on July 13 that he “fully” endorsed Donald Trump, noting he would donate $45 million a month to the pro-Trump America PAC.

Musk has been under pressure to make changes to X’s Grok, its AI search assistant tool that has spread false election information concerning Harris.

Musk previously posted on X after Biden’s withdrawal that he believes “in an America that maximizes individual freedom and merit. That used to be the Democratic Party, but now the pendulum has swung to the Republican Party.”

Reid Hoffman

Reid Hoffman

The cofounder and executive chairman of LinkedIn posted on X that Walz is “a lifelong public servant who represents the best of our country.”

“A dedicated teacher, former guardsman, an advocate for women’s health, and a family man, he cares deeply about America’s future,” he continued. “Together, Harris and Walz will fight for everyone—no exceptions.”

Hoffman, who has blasted business leaders for supporting Trump, noted on X that Walz has “fostered a pro-business climate, attracting substantial investment and positioning the state as a top contender for business development.”

Hoffman in January donated $2 million to the Granite for America super PAC in support of Biden’s campaign. Hoffman was quick to back Harris as the Democratic nominee shortly after Biden dropped out of the race, noting that Harris “is the right person at the right time.”

Mark Cuban

Mark Cuban

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” investor praised Walz on X, noting how he can “sit at the kitchen table and make you feel like you have know [sic] him forever.”

Cuban noted that Harris “went from worst to first” and said it’s not a reach for Walz to have the same transformation. “People are tired of the ideologues and hate from both parties,” he said.

In a comment, Cuban noted that Walz “never pardoned the May 2020 Minneapolis hostages,” referring to the George Floyd protests.

Cuban, who supported Biden even after his faulty debate performance, was among the first business leaders to post after Biden dropped out, writing on X, “Father time is undefeated.”

Shawn Fain

Shawn Fain

Shawn Fain, president of the United Auto Workers, praised Walz shortly after the announcement, noting how he has “been a great governor and is going to make for a great Vice President.”

“He’s stood with the working class every step of the way, and has walked the walk, including on a UAW picket line last fall,” Fain said.

The UAW, in a separate post on X, noted that Walz “doesn’t just talk the talk, he walks the walk.”

Walz has fought for increased labor protections as governor, including guaranteeing sick time and implementing paid family and medical leave. The 2023 laws also gave blue-collar workers more safety protections.

Aaron Levie

Aaron Levie

Box CEO Aaron Levie cheered Harris’ pick as “fantastic” in an X post Tuesday, citing Walz’s balance between compassion and “pro business policy.”

Levie, a Harris supporter who previously praised Biden for stepping down, also railed off a slew of flattering stats about Walz.

“Minnesota is ranked #3 for happiness, #2 for Fortune 500s per capita, #6 for businesses, and #2 for life expectancy,” Levie wrote. “And he was the 7th most bipartisan member in congress.”

Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian responded to Levie’s post with a joke about the similarly high-ranking status of the “juicy lucy” — a famous cheese-stuffed hamburger hailing from Walz’s home state of Minnesota.