Gov. Tim Walz leads the great state of Minnesota.
When Vice President Kamala Harris, quickly and unexpectedly, found herself at the top of the Democratic presidential ticket in July, discussion quickly turned to a potential running mate.
In a close race with former President Donald Trump, many pundits believed Vice President Harris should chose Pennsylvania’s moderate Gov. Josh Shapiro because his battleground state holds crucial electoral college votes.
Others looked to former astronaut Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) because of his strengths on border issues, military background and the fact that his wife former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) survived an assassination attempt like Trump.
However, when Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg began eloquently promoting the Democratic ticket on conservative news outlets, many thought the former mayor would be the perfect vice president.
However, when all the dust settled, Minn. Gov Tim Walz found himself thrust into the national spotlight as potentially the next Veep.
While many Gen Z activists had pushed hard for Walz on social media, he remained largely unknown to the vast majority.
However, when Walz, a former educator and soldier, branded Trump, and his running mate Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) as weird, many Democratic voters believed their party finally had the right messenger to spar with the unconventional MAGA movement.
While many thought that Harris should have chosen a moderate like Shapiro because another liberal would alienate independent and disillusioned Republicans, the current vice president said she felt an immediate connection with a governor who could resonate with Midwest voters.
But who exactly is Walz?
What does he stand for?
And what are political and business leaders saying about the selection of the Minnesota governor?
RegalMag.com dives deep into Walz’s background as he tries to become the first vice president from the “The North Star State” since former Vice President Walter Mondale.
The consulting firm Clearview Energy Partners described the selection of Walz as “aimed at bringing out the Democrats’ ‘base’ and establishing a contrast with the campaign of former President Donald Trump…
“(Tuesday’s) decision suggests a focus by the Harris campaign on the climate-forward youth voters who could determine outcomes in closely contested ‘swing’ states.”
However, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott took it a little bit further.
On the social media platform X, Abbott said, “Walz is also a climate radical who wants to destroy American energy independence and completely eliminate fossil fuels, killing hundreds of thousands of good-paying oil and gas jobs in Texas.”
But Walz gets praised for his progressive record in Minnesota like providing lunch for all students in the state, support of abortion rights, support for unions and his stance on LGBTQ+ rights.
Harris said, “He’s the kind of person who makes people feel like they belong and then inspires them to dream big…That’s the kind of vice president America deserves.”
And America will see plenty of Walz on the campaign trail leading up to Nov. 5.
In Philadelphia on Tuesday, Walz said, “We got 91 days. My God, that’s easy. We’ll sleep when we’re dead.”
The Houston Chronicle editorial board wrote, “Walz radiates good cheer. Ruddy of face and ample cheeked, no toupee or hair plugs covering his balding 60-year-old pate of white fuzz, he looks like he could don a fake beard and have a second career as a Santa at the mall. Born in West Point, Neb., he joined the Army National Guard and earned a social science degree from Chadron State College; taught history and coached football at Mankato West High School in his wife’s home state of Minnesota; and won a seat in the U.S. Congress by flipping his rural Republican-leaning district in 2006 before being elected Minnesota governor in 2018. His record includes signing into law abortion rights, paid medical and family leave, legalizing recreational marijuana and expanded background checks for gun purchases, though he’s a hunter who at one time had an ‘A’ rating from the National Rifle Association.”
Republicans have labeled him and Harris as the radical left.
However, Walz uses comedy to poke fun at the GOP’s criticism of him, like he did with Jake Tapper of CNN.
Walz said, “What a monster? Yeah, my kids are gonna eat here. And you’re going to have a chance to go to college. And you’re gonna have an opportunity to live where we’re working on reducing carbon emissions. Oh, and by the way, you’re going to have personal incomes that are higher and you’re gonna have health insurance. So, if that’s where they want to label me, I’m more than happy to take the label.”
Nevertheless, conservatives have blasted Walz’ response to Black Lives Matter protests that turned chaotic after the murder of George Floyd at the knee of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
Walz eventually called in the National Guard to quell the upheaval.
However, his Republican detractors say that he called them in too late, even though Trump initially praised his response to the protests.
The Houston Chronicle editorial board does not believe that Walz will be able to convert Trump’s most loyal supporters, but he could influence a few voters with his down-home appeal.
Former Republican lawmaker, and never Trumper, Joe Walsh said that Walz is a good pick because his every man story helps the Democrats shed their elitist stereotype.
The Houston Chronicle editorial reported, “Walz’s life story as a football coach and history teacher, a military veteran who served in the Army National Guard for 24 years, who loves guns and also dared to stand up for the gun industry—a real-life Mr. Smith goes to Washington—gives America a chance to enjoy a measure of authentic civic-mindedness. Harris is hoping that will help her in November. We hope it will help the dialogue in this divided country for much longer than that.”
