Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is Kamala Harris' running mate for the Democratic party in the upcoming US election.
Walz was feted at the Democratic National Convention and responded with an emotional speech on Aug. 21. Currently, Harris trails Republican candidate Donald Trump in the US election betting odds.
| Candidate | Odds to win 2024 US election at  |
Implied probability |
|---|---|---|
 Kamala Harris |
-125 | 55.5% |
 Donald Trump |
+100 | 50% |
Odds courtesy of bet365 as of Sept. 11, 2024. Implied probability in betting is the likelihood of an event occurring as inferred from the odds offered by a sportsbook or the market.
Harris also formally accepted the presidential nomination at the DNC in Chicago. Sportsbooks have adjusted the Harris odds market to reflect the overwhelming support she has received from the party's elite. With less than two months until election day, Harris has plenty to do if she hopes to win the presidency.
Here's a look at the closing odds for the Democratic vice presidential candidate:
2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee closing odds
| Candidate | |
| Tim Walz | -300 |
| Josh Shapiro | +225 |
| Andrew Beshear | +2,000 |
| Mark Kelly | +2,500 |
| Pete Buttigieg | +5,000 |
| Michelle Obama | +7,000 |
Who were the favorites to be chosen as Democratic VP candidate?
Josh Shapiro opened as a +162 betting favorite at bet365, with Roy Cooper (+400), Mark Kelly (+400) and Andrew Beshear (+450) close behind. Kelly surged into the lead late on Day 1 of the market, while Cooper and Beshear both saw their odds take a hit; Shapiro then became the oddsmakers' clear choice, surging into minus-money territory late on July 30 and shortening significantly from there.
A late surge from Walz culminated with the Minnesota lawmaker surging into the lead on Aug. 5, and the gap widened the next day after Shapiro briefly found himself back on top.
Tim Walz's odds of becoming the Democratic VP candidate
Walz, who rocketed up the odds board after sitting as low as No. 5 on the candidate list a week before the announcement, is a champion for the progressive arm of Democratic supporters. His meteoric rise has largely been attributed to Walz going viral for labeling Republicans as "weird", but his resume is certainly substantial enough to warrant a VP selection.
Walz served in the Army National Guard for nearly a quarter-century, and was a well-respected teacher and faculty advisor before entering politics. Now 60, he serves as the chair of the Democratic Governors Association and has a reputation for being the kind of straight-talking, rural-friendly blue-collar advocate the Democrats need to make gains in areas where they're currently the weakest.
When was the Democratic vice presidential candidate chosen?
The Associated Press, citing several courses, reported that Harris selected Tim Walz as her running mate Aug. 6, and Harris confirmed the news on her X feed just hours before kicking off a multi-city tour of key swing states with a visit to Philadelphia. That visit came less than two weeks before the Democratic National Convention held Aug. 19-22 in Chicago.
2024 Republican vice presidential nominee
Donald Trump has had his running mate in place since mid-July.
On July 15, Trump announced on his Truth Social account that Ohio senator JD Vance will be the Republican Vice Presidential candidate, as the 78-year-old former President looks to secure a second non-consecutive term. The VP odds board for the Republican Party saw tons of volatility over the last few months, with Vivek Ramaswamy, Ron DeSantis, and Kristi Noem all boasting the best odds at one point but ultimately falling short.
Political insiders suggested Trump narrowed his VP shortlist down to four names in the weeks leading up to the kickoff to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, with North Dakota governor Doug Burgum and Florida senator Marco Rubio reportedly among the finalists. The choice of Vance was largely celebrated by Republicans, though it had little impact on the latest Trump odds (which sit at +100 as of Sept. 11).
2024 Republican vice presidential nominee closing odds
| Candidate | Odds at |
|---|---|
| Doug Burgum | +110 |
| JD Vance | +200 |
| Glenn Youngkin | +800 |
| Marco Rubio | +900 |
| Ben Carson | +1,800 |
| Tulsi Gabbard | +1,800 |
| Vivek Ramaswamy | +2,500 |
| Michael Flynn | +5,000 |
| Nikki Haley | +5,000 |
| Tim Scott | +6,000 |
Who were the favorites to be chosen as Republican VP candidate?
There was a logjam atop the VP odds board, with Burgum in first place at +110, followed closely by Vance (+200), Glenn Youngkin (+800), and Rubio (+900).
When was the Republican vice presidential candidate chosen?
Trump revealed Vance as his running mate on his Truth Social account just prior to the start of the Republican National Convention on July 15 in Milwaukee, Wis.
How to bet on political odds
While the most popular bet is who will become the next US president, plenty of other odds are offered as well. You can also wager on which party will win the election, which presidential candidate will win the popular vote, and even who will win in different states.
Keep up with current events
Follow current events and what is going on in the political world. That said, don't put too much stock in small events. An embarrassing mistake or salacious scandal might look bad at first light but in the grand scheme of things might not amount to much.
You can however take advantage of such over-reactions if your timing is right. For example, if your preferred candidate takes a hit in public perception their odds to win will likely go down as well. If you don't think the incident will have a long-term impact then you can grab your candidate at a better number than before.
Also keep in mind that articles about politics, especially editorial stories, tend to be partisan so try to read about events from as many different perspectives as possible to get the big picture.
Debates and changes in political alliances can occasionally turn the tide as well, and sportsbooks can take a bit of time to adjust political odds after those events.
Follow the latest polls
Now this one is obviously far from foolproof as anyone who thought Hillary Clinton was a shoo-in during the 2016 election can attest. National polls are a flawed tool but they can serve as a solid indication of which way certain demographics are leaning or gauge changes in popularity for a particular candidate.
The Gallup polls on presidential job approval are one factor to consider while Real Clear Politics provides information from dozens of polls including the general election. Another useful website is 270 to Win, which has a consensus electoral map based on current ratings from Sabato's Crystal Ball, The Cook Political Report, and Inside Elections.
Be realistic
This is another one that comes with a bit of a caveat. After all, Trump himself was one heck of a long shot before he took the Oval Office. But in general, when betting on politics stay away from those that are clearly on the outside looking in. After all, this is still a democracy and there are procedures.
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Where can I bet on US presidential election odds?
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