The Great Walz into the Midwest
On August 6, Vice President Kamala Harris announced her choice for vice president in the 2024 Campaign: Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota. The choice, made just a few weeks before the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in mid-August, is the final choice Harris needs to make before the sprint to Election Day. Walz was met with positive reactions by Democrats and skepticism by Republicans. Following a kickoff rally in Pennsylvania, Harris and Walz are campaigning this week in several key battleground states (Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, and Nevada). In a clear sign of Democrats’ enthusiasm, the campaign reported raising more than USD 20 million in the hours after Walz’s selection. While vice presidents usually don’t guarantee victory for a candidate, they can help with fundraising, spreading the message (you can now be in two places at once), and appealing to certain demographics of voters.
Walz: Veteran, congressman, governor
Some background on Governor Walz:
- Walz grew up in a middle-class family in the Sandhills region of Nebraska. His father died of lung cancer a year after he graduated high school, which left his mother with substantial medical debt. For that reason, Walz has made clear the issue of access to affordable healthcare is very personal to him.
- Walz has also served 24 years in the Army National Guard, including a post-9/11 deployment to Europe, before retiring with the rank of Command Sergeant Major.
- Walz was elected to the House in 2006 (after defeating incumbent Republican Rep. Gil Gutknecht) and as Minnesota’s 41st Governor in 2018 (in an open race after incumbent Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton chose not to run for another term); he was reelected by a comfortable margin to a second term in 2022. Walz is currently the Chair of the Democratic Governors Association and Co-Chair of the bipartisan Council of Governors.
Building credibility with the working class
In announcing Governor Walz as her running mate, Vice President Harris said, "As a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he's delivered for working families like his. We are going to build a great partnership." These attributes, underscored by Walz’s midwestern roots, suggest the role the governor will play during the campaign season. Democrats are hoping that his record of progressive policies (free school meals for students, common sense gun reform, paid family and medical leave for workers) when combined with his background as a hunter, responsible gun owner, small town teacher, and coach from the Midwest, can help him resonate with voters—especially independent voters.
Republicans will seize on COVID-19 disagreements, protests in Minnesota
Republicans have wasted no time framing Governor Walz as a “radical Democrat,” even calling Minnesota the “California of the Midwest.” Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said Mr. Walz’s policies to allow convicted felons to vote in Minnesota are evidence that he “is obsessed with spreading California’s dangerously liberal agenda far and wide.” Leavitt is referring to a bill Walz signed in 2023, that restored voting rights to felons who had completed their prison sentences, rather than waiting for them to complete parole.
The criticism goes even deeper as both parties attempt to frame Walz for their respective bases. Minnesota GOP Chair Davin Hann has called Walz “divisive.” Others have pointed to Walz’s response after the death of George Floyd where he called in thousands of National Guard soldiers and state troopers to action, but not quickly enough to save many small businesses and police stations. Opponents have also pointed to his COVID-19 lockdown policies, such as exercising emergency powers to impose mask mandates and business shutdowns, as further evidence of his liberal policies.
JD Vance, the Republican nominee for vice president, dismissed Walz’s selection, saying: “[Kamala Harris] is a person who listened to the Hamas wing of her own party in selecting a nominee.” Vance’s statement was a nod to Republican allegations that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Jewish faith and support for Israel played a factor in Harris’ decision to pass Shapiro over for the VP spot.
Does any of this actually matter?
Debate is ongoing if a vice presidential candidate can make or break a campaign. While a vice presidential pick may signal how good of a decisionmaker a potential president can be, vice presidents don’t generally boost a candidate into a winning position. Contrary to popular belief, VPs don’t necessarily deliver a candidate’s home state or specific demographics of voters but they can be strong surrogates for the top of the ticket—the one who Americans are usually voting for.
Bonus Round: Selects from Walz’s policy record
Climate: Last year, Walz enacted legislation mandating 100% carbon-free energy by 2040 and at least 55% from renewable sources, prompting potential legal action from the North Dakota Industrial Commission. Additionally, he streamlined the permitting process for renewable energy projects.
Data Privacy and Artificial Intelligence: Walz enacted the Minnesota Consumer Data Privacy Act, imposing strict requirements on data processing and consumer rights, with enforcement by the Attorney General. He also addressed AI-related concerns by legislating against non-consensual deepfakes and setting AI use standards for state services.
Cybersecurity: In August 2022, Walz directed state agencies to enhance cybersecurity measures for critical infrastructure and advised the president on balanced federal and state cybersecurity guidelines. Earlier that year, he emphasized careful and coordinated state processes in cybersecurity policymaking.
Labor and the Workforce: Walz's biennial budget introduced guaranteed paid sick days, wage protections, and safety standards for various workers, alongside establishing a statewide paid family and medical leave program. It also set a precedent with ergonomics requirements and banned noncompete agreements.
Immigration: Walz supports a clear path to citizenship for essential workers and undocumented immigrant youth brought to the US as a minor (“DREAMers”). He enacted legislation removing immigration requirements for driver’s licenses last year.
Abortion: Last year, Walz signed the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act, securing reproductive rights post-Dobbs decision, and the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, safeguarding out-of-state patients and providers. He also expanded abortion access and eliminated mandatory waiting periods in the biennial health finance budget.
Gun Control: Formerly endorsed by the NRA, Walz shifted to advocate for strong gun control measures following the Parkland high school shooting. Last year, he enacted laws for universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders.
Veterans Affairs: Walz led the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act and participated in several bipartisan initiatives, such as the Veterans Affairs Accountability Act and the Veterans Educational Assistance Act, during his final congressional term.
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