Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota claims that the upcoming presidential election has extraordinarily high stakes but also surprisingly low ones.
The congressman and former high school teacher claims that Vice President Kamala Harris is on one side and that she is a serious, capable, and experienced candidate who he believes is in the best interests of Americans.
Walz maintains that former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, his running mate, are two "weird dudes" who are concealing their deadly political goal behind populist and, in Vance's case, implausibly homespun rhetoric.
Delivered with an exuberant Minnesota accent, Walz's sharp and direct message has elevated him from a relatively unknown Midwestern Democrat—despite his impressive progressive record—to a possible running mate for Harris. Walz has been denouncing the Republican leaders of the MAGA movement as "strange" and attacking their public demeanor and political goals while simultaneously forging a new, at least to genteel liberal politics, line of attack.
During his remarks at the "White Dudes for Harris" Zoom fundraiser on Monday night, Walz was once again a whirlwind of acid and honey. This time around, though, he also had the exact same tone as the former high school football coach, initially urging followers to "shrink" Trump and Vance by "keeping hammering on" them.
He then presented the evening's main topic.
How often does one get to alter the course of history in a hundred days? How often do you get to do something that will influence future generations in a hundred days? Walz enquired. "And how often in the world does that bastard get to wake up later and find out that a Black woman sent him on his way and kicked his ass?"
After expressing gratitude to the governor, the call's host, Ross Morales Rocketto, made a sardonic comment, saying, "I see why everybody is so excited about you."
Allies in Minnesota claim that Walz's triumphant entry onto the national political scene is more surprising due to the erratic nature of the current political climate than his skill set, which they believe CNN has undervalued due in part to the attention given to the so-called "Blue Wall" state leaders positioned to his east. Governors Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, a possible running mate, and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan have become inevitable since Biden resigned and Harris was declared the presumed Democratic nominee. Comparable in political approach to Walz, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has also gained more notoriety in the last ten days.
Throughout Walz's six years as governor of Minnesota, there has been a notable upsurge in social and political change. The Covid-19 outbreak came first, and in the midst of it all, George Floyd was killed by a White police officer, sparking protests against racism all around the world. Walz handled everything—including the more common criticisms of excessive spending—so skillfully that, at the start of 2023, he was heading the Democratic trio in the state legislature.
Former President Barack Obama's supportive tweet in May 2023 marked a significant turning point in Walz's slow ascent. Walz linked to a MinnPost article about the legislature's "transformational" session, which he described as a progressive "wish list" turned "to-do list," which included protecting transgender rights, enacting paid sick and family leave, extending voting rights, and allocating public funds for affordable housing.
Obama wrote: "If you need a reminder that elections have consequences, take a look at what's going on in Minnesota."
They are now, however it took some time. Ben Schierer, the mayor of Fergus Falls, Minnesota, who has collaborated extensively with the governor, expressed his lack of surprise.
First elected to his nonpartisan position in 2016, Schierer told CNN, "He's the same guy whether he's on Fox News or MSNBC or at Union Pizza in Fergus Falls with me." "What most people probably didn't realize is that he doesn't fear anything at all. Not at all scared. Furthermore, he is completely unbeaten.
After serving as an instructor and coach for more than 20 years in the Army National Guard—which included a tour overseas following the 9/11 attacks—Walz unexpectedly defeated a six-term Republican incumbent congressman in 2006, a year that was historic for Democrats. When the tide turned, Walz stayed put and was routinely reelected in the normally red district until he decided to run for his current position in 2018. (The GOP soon regained control of the seat upon his departure.)
According to a progressive consultant with strong ties to Minnesota Democrats, "he is able to connect with people who you don't necessarily think of as being part of the Democratic coalition in these Midwestern states, which means rural Whites." "They seem to enjoy his style of speaking, his little linguistic asides, and the metaphors he will employ."
Over the past few years, Walz's influence in St. Paul has gotten stronger, and he seems more confident. The accusation against Walz has been unique in an era when leftist Democrats routinely fault the party and its centrist leadership for not being more ruthless in their use of power.
"One Minnesota" was his catchphrase or motto when he first entered the race for governor, and he frequently emphasized the idea that "I can work across aisle." David Schultz, a political science professor at Hamline University, told CNN, "I can bring people together." "However, his message changed to, 'This is what we can do with single party control, the era of gridlock is over,' once he achieved that trifecta."
According to Schultz, Walz has been displaying an even more aggressive side lately in his bid to join the Democratic presidential ticket.
"How good of a pit bull Walz is getting is one of the things that's really surprised me in the last few weeks," Shultz remarked. "Especially after what he said about Vance."
Walz seems to enjoy taking aim at Trump's running mate, a fellow Midwestern from "small town." According to Walz, this familiarity has led to a great deal of disdain.
Since many of you are not from small towns, there is just one golden rule in small towns. Walz uttered, "Mind your own damn business." "They are not necessary for us. I have no idea who is requesting this insane crap that they are promoting. Who is requesting a birth control ban? Who is requesting an increase in the cost of insulin?
Speaking to an online audience that by Monday night had contributed $4 million to the Harris campaign, Walz also ventured into international policy, stating emphatically that the next election will determine how Americans will treat the rest of the world.
It's not just us in this. He remarked, "The rest of the world depends on us being here. The idea that these individuals don't give a damn about what goes on in the globe and are disregarding the effects of climate change on underprivileged populations is akin to them putting our NATO partners under the bus.
In his closing remarks, he combined partisan spiciness with Minnesota niceness, pleading with Democrats to get organized, ruthless, and offensive.
Walz urged people to "never back down from our progressive values." "What is socialism to one is neighborliness to another."
