2016 US Presidential Election - Hillary Clinton chooses Virginia Senator Tim Kaine as vice presidential running mate

Hillary Clinton has tapped Tim Kaine to be her running mate.

The Democratic candidate for president announced the news in a text message to her supporters.

'I'm thrilled to tell you this first: I've chosen Sen. Tim Kaine as my running mate. Welcome him to our team.' 

She sent out a similar messages several minutes later that described the Virginia legislator as 'a man who's devoted his life to fighting for others.’

The messages were marked with an ‘H’ – the Clinton campaign’s way of saying the candidate wrote them herself.

She said in a follow-up tweet that Kaine ‘is a relentless optimist who believes no problem is unsolvable if you put in the work to solve it.'

Tim Kaine then confirmed the news on Twitter. He wrote: 'Just got off the phone with Hillary. I’m honored to be her running mate. Can’t wait to hit the trail tomorrow in Miami!'

About Tim Kaine

AGE: 58

BIRTHPLACE: Saint Paul, Minnesota 

STATE: Virginia  

EXPERIENCE: Tim Kaine entered politics as a city council member and then the mayor of Richmond, Virginia. 

He ran for and won the race for lieutenant governor of the commonwealth of Virginia in 2002, then governor in 2006.

He's also served as the chairman of the Democratic National Committee. 

In 2013, he won Virginia's election for U.S. Senator and still represents the state.

SPOUSE: Anne Bright Holton  

CHILDREN: Nat, Woody, and Annella 

DONALD TRUMP'S RESPONSE TO TIM KAINE

'It's only fitting that Hillary Clinton would select an ethically challenged insider like Tim Kaine who's personally benefited from the rigged system. 

While serving in government, Kaine has taken tens of thousands of dollars in freebies - more than $160,000 in fact - on free vacations, free clothes, and free tickets. 

If you think Crooked Hillary and Corrupt Kaine are going to change anything in Washington, it's just the opposite. 

They do well by the current system, while the rest of America gets left behind.

The choice has never been clearer - Donald Trump calls on us to Believe in America, while the Status Quo ticket of Clinton-Kaine wants us to believe in a rigged system that enriches them at your expense.'