Gov. Tim Walz has been a fixture in Minnesota for many years. Newly chosen to be Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, the Minnesota governor and former congressman is now being introduced to a national audience as he joins the national Democratic ticket.
After news of the selection broke, Minnesotans who have seen and experienced Walz’s record up close began to react to the news.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said he was not surprised by Harris’ decision to name Walz as her running mate. Emmer said Walz “embodies the same disastrous economic, open-border, and soft-on-crime policies Harris has inflicted on our country the last four years.”
Additionally, Emmer said Walz’s addition to the Harris campaign “solidifies this ticket’s full embrace of a radical, America-last agenda.”
Joe Soucheray, a longtime Minnesota media personality and inductee of the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame, said Walz “has been a train wreck.” The Garage Logic host lambasted Walz’s record as governor, drawing attention to Medicaid fraud and $250 million in food fraud that has occurred under Walz’s tenure.
The Minnesota Family Council (MFC) reacted to the news of Walz’s selection, saying “no one has done more than Tim Walz to make Minnesota a haven for radical social policy.”
“While others today are discussing Governor Walz’s tenure, including the 2020 riots, COVID vaccine mandates, and the largest COVID-relief fund fraud in the nation, it’s also important to look at what Governor Walz lists as his actual accomplishments,” said MFC CEO Jeff Evans. “These include the so-called ‘Protect Reproductive Options’ Act which made abortion legal until the moment of birth, and the so-called ‘Trans Refuge’ bill which could take children away from their parents if parents do not provide access to harmful ‘gender-affirming care.'”
“The Harris-Walz ticket is the most radical on abortion and gender ideology in American history,” added Evans.
In contrast, virtually the entire Democratic echo chamber in Minnesota, from Amy Klobuchar to Ilhan Omar to Keith Ellison, roundly celebrated Harris’ selection of Walz.
Walz’s place on the Democratic ticket means the former school teacher could become the third vice president from Minnesota in U.S. history; Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale are the other two.
Just days ago, Gov. Walz was largely unknown on the national stage. However, Harris’ selection of Walz has thrust the Minnesota governor into one of the nation’s largest political spotlights. In turn, Walz’s record as governor is under a new, national scrutiny for the first time.
At a rally in Pennsylvania, U.S. senator and GOP vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance weighed in on the selection of his Democratic counterpart.
“This is a guy who, when rioters were burning down the biggest city in Minnesota, was actively cheering them on,” said Vance regarding Walz. “You think the black business leaders in Minneapolis are grateful, the working class business leaders are grateful, that Tim Walz allowed rioters to burn down their businesses?”
Gov. Greg Abbot of Texas said the Harris-Walz ticket is “the most dangerous” presidential/vice presidential ticket ever.
“[Walz] let cities in his state burn down. [Harris] helped bail out the arsonists. She supports free health care to illegal immigrants. He signed laws giving state services to them. Both provide magnets for more illegal immigration,” said Gov. Abbot.
Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama described Walz as an “ideal partner” for Harris and an “outstanding governor.” Among other things, the former president praised Walz for the Minnesota governor’s support for abortion and his “ability to talk like a human being.”
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
