In a significant move ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is officially Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate. Walz brings a connection to Midwestern voters, positioning the Harris campaign to broaden its appeal in a region that has slipped away from Democrats. Additionally, he has a reputation for emphasizing veteran issues, which might cause many in the traditionally Republican demographic to switch to the Democratic ticket. Despite this, Tim Walz remains farther to the left than Kamala Harris on many other issues, which does not help their campaign reach those who lean conservative.
Walz first gained national prominence in politics back in 2007. In a district that remained firmly Republican, he represented moderate and progressive policies, becoming the fourth Democrat in the history of Minnesota to represent his district. In his first week as a legislator, Walz advocated for raising the minimum wage, allowing Medicare to negotiate pharmaceutical prices, and enforcing pay-as-you-go budget rules, solidifying himself as an opponent of big business. As a veteran of the Korean War, he firmly opposed more war, vocally advocating for an end to the Iraq War. Furthermore, as the disastrous 2007–2008 financial crisis hit, Walz spoke out against using taxpayer money to bail out large corporations. When the $700 billion TARP bill solely designed to save these firms came along, he voted against it and released public statements denouncing it after it eventually passed. Walz also held a populist stance, advocating for small business owners and urging assistance for hog and dairy farmers who struggled with lower prices. However, he also positioned himself as an advocate for bipartisanship, often getting co-sponsored by Republicans and co-sponsoring Republicans himself.
His big break would not come until 2019 when he was elected governor of Minnesota. He decided to run in March 2017 when the incumbent governor, Mark Dayton, announced he would not seek another term. Despite Erin Murphy winning the endorsement of the Democratic Party, Walz still defeated her in the primaries with a 41.60% plurality. He became elected governor in November 2018 after defeating the Republican nominee with a narrow 53.84% majority. As a governor, he was mostly known for his role in the 2020 George Floyd protests. When the video of Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck was released, he called for justice. After this, in an unexpected move, he fully activated the Minnesota National Guard 4 days later to quell riots, which drew praise from Donald Trump, who said he “fully agree[d] with the way [Walz] handled it.” However, many Republicans rolled back their support after Walz, soon after, ordered the Minnesota legislature to reconvene for special sessions on legislation for police reform and accountability. By July 21, 2020, they passed significant legislation, which included a limited ban on chokeholds, an end to dehumanization in training programs, and more emphasis on de-escalation. Most notably, it also created an independent unit at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for investigations of fatal police encounters.
As governor, he also pushed for other social justice reforms. He kept abortion legal and signed the Reproductive Freedom Defense Act, which made it illegal to persecute U.S. citizens who traveled to Minnesota for abortions. On the issue of climate change, he signed a law requiring Minnesota to obtain all of its electricity from wind, solar, and other carbon-free sources by 2040. He also signed a bill to allocate $2.2 billion to education and provided free school meals to all students regardless of income. Much of his effort regarded local Native American tribes, becoming the first Minnesota governor to visit all 11 tribal nations in the state and signing an education bill that included education of Indigenous cultural heritage for all students.
Walz complements Harris’ strengths with a more progressive side. Like Harris, Walz supports abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and climate change legislation (to some extent). However, Walz is more progressive than Harris overall. For example, while Kamala Harris supports unconditional military aid to Israel, Walz has publicly expressed sympathy for pro-Palestine protestors, calling for an end to civilian casualties and a ceasefire in Gaza. Walz also has a base in the LGBTQ+ community thanks to several pieces of local legislation he has passed in Minnesota.
However, Walz’s more progressive positions may not make any significant difference. U.S. citizens ideologically farther to the left than Kamala Harris are still very likely to vote for Harris because of a common belief in lesser evilism. Where Kamala Harris has an opportunity to score points is conceding to more right-wing positions. She has already done this. Last month, Harris positioned herself as “tougher on immigration than Trump” in an interview. She has also proposed a more populist economic agenda than Biden, which could resonate with left-wing and right-wing voters. Despite this, she has not used the VP choice for much of this. One point where the more conservative crowd could concede to the Harris ticket is with the veteran demographic. Since Walz’s beginning in politics, Walz has become known as a tireless advocate for veterans. While veterans are only 6.2% of the population, they could tip the scales in an election as narrow as this. His overall background in the military does not hurt whatsoever.
Tim Walz’s selection as Kamala Harris’ running mate presents a strategic opportunity to broaden the Harris campaign’s appeal, particularly in the Midwest and among veterans. While Walz’s progressive stances might not align perfectly with Harris’ more centrist positions, his strong connection to key voter demographics could prove crucial in a tightly contested election. It may be the key to capturing a broader electorate and securing a critical victory in 2024.
Works Cited
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