Here’s what most Americans don’t know about Tim Walz.
The Trump campaign has sharply criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who was recently selected as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, labeling him as a “dangerously liberal extremist” and suggesting that his vision for the country represents a “nightmare” for all Americans.
Walz, a former congressman now in his second term as governor, was announced as Harris’ vice-presidential candidate early Tuesday. Minnesota, traditionally a Democratic stronghold in presidential elections, has become a target for the Trump campaign this cycle as they seek to flip the state.
The Trump campaign’s critique of Walz centers on his progressive policies, which they argue align closely with those of Harris. Trump campaign national press secretary Karoline Leavitt denounced Walz’s policies, saying, “It’s no wonder Kamala Harris, a staunch San Francisco liberal, would choose Tim Walz as her running mate. Walz has used his time as governor to push Minnesota towards the same extreme left policies that have plagued California.” Leavitt criticized Walz’s policies, including his carbon-free agenda, stricter emission standards for vehicles, and support for allowing convicted felons to vote, labeling them as evidence of his alignment with what she described as California’s “dangerously liberal” agenda.
Walz has made headlines for his progressive achievements in Minnesota, such as advancing abortion rights, legalizing recreational marijuana, and tightening gun regulations to reduce violence. He served in the House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019, representing Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, before winning the governorship in 2018 and securing re-election in 2022.
Recent remarks by Walz, in which he referred to former President Trump and his running mate JD Vance as “weird,” have drawn significant attention and criticism. Walz’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Minneapolis riots of 2020 has also been contentious, with critics accusing him of failing to effectively address the unrest and pandering to progressive elements of his base.
Minnesota GOP Chairman David Hann has labeled Walz as a “disaster” for the state, citing his response to the 2020 riots and his COVID-19 policies as major failures. Hann also criticized Walz’s support for a mandate that included indoor masking and a hotline for reporting violations of pandemic restrictions.
In a recent call, Walz defended progressive values, equating socialism with “neighborliness,” a comment that has further fueled criticism from opponents. As Harris and Walz prepare to launch their campaign tour through key battleground states, the Trump campaign is positioning their criticisms of Walz and Harris as central to their strategy to sway voters and challenge the Democrats’ agenda.