Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris has picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate, wagering that a former red-district congressman with a progressive streak can help her win over working-class voters in battleground states needed to beat Donald Trump in November.
“The entire country is about to see why their friends from Minnesota can’t stop bragging about Governor Walz,” Minnesota DFL Party Chair Ken Martin said in a statement. “By picking a servant leader born and raised in a small town who has dedicated his career to protecting freedoms and lifting up working families, Vice President Harris has chosen the perfect foil for [Trump running mate] JD Vance and his politics of resentment.”
For anyone who isn’t familiar with Walz look at what he’s done in Minnesota with a 1 seat majority- universal free school meals - legal weed - carbon free electricity by 2040 - tax rebates for the working class up to $1,300 (making under $150k per year) - 12 weeks paid family leave - 12 weeks paid sick leave - banned conversion therapy - red flag laws for guns - universal background checks for guns - automatic voter registration - free public college (under $80k) - ban on PFAS (forever chemicals)
Minnesota has long been one of the best places in America to live. And the crazy part is they’re a fly over state. They’re who Nebraska could be if they stopped blaming costal States for everything and started implementing good policy. Minnesota is proof that the culture war is a big fat fucking distraction and that common sense governance can, in fact, work
I’ve kinda wanted to for a while. Seems like a genuinely good place to live, plus it doesn’t get as hot (yet) as other states. I burn easy and bitch about temperatures above 70f.
Well you may be disapointed. MN is landlocked so our temps are erratic. In summer it is regularly in the uper 80s to 90s with hatefully high humidity. We can also get like 60 degree temp swings over the course of a day in the spring and fall.
Sure but then you’d have to live in Minnesota. Have you seen Fargo? No thank you.
Fargo is actually in North Dakota. There are places in northern Minnesota that feel similar, but generally MN is significantly more forested and temperate than the biting cold and drifting snow on the plains of ND.
Where I live is basically the polar opposite climate wise and I dream of moving to somewhere frozen over half the year.
Hey, y’all remember how you were feeling about 4 weeks ago as the news media was eviscerating Biden over his debate performance? What a difference a month can make. I’m pretty jubilant this morning. As the kids say, LFG!!!
I understood that and I hate you for it.
Context, they are looking for a party for a raid (Ice Crown Citadel - 10 or 25 person content) in World of Warcraft circa 2010. Gearscore was an addon to quantify/auto-inspect players to make sure you could actually do the job. Also they are playing a damage class, so there are a lot of players in that pool.
I miss those days, nostalgia is one hell of a drug.
Apparently I’m not as hip to the lingo as I could be. I had to look up everything besides LFG. Well, I knew what “big dick” meant, but I searched that anyway just for fun.
High school teacher
Football coach
Military veteran
Governor
Extremely candid with progressive streak and unabashedly proud to be left.
I love the pick. Watch any interview with him and you’ll fall in love.
Political positions
Cannabis
Walz advocated for the legalization of recreational cannabis as governor of Minnesota.[74][75][76] As a candidate for governor in 2017, he said: “We have an opportunity in Minnesota to replace the current failed policy with one that creates tax revenue, grows jobs, builds opportunities for Minnesotans, protects Minnesota kids, and trusts adults to make personal decisions based on their personal freedoms.”[77] In 2022, he proposed the creation of a Cannabis Management Office to develop and implement the “regulatory framework for adult-use cannabis” in Minnesota.[78][79] On May 30, 2023, he signed into law House File 100 to legalize recreational cannabis in Minnesota, which went into effect on August 1, 2023.[80][81]
Economic issues
During the economic crisis in 2008, Walz repeatedly spoke out against using taxpayer money to bail out financial institutions; in late September, he voted against the $700 billion TARP bill, which purchased troubled assets from these institutions.[82] Walz released a statement after the bill’s passage, saying, “The bill we voted on today passes the buck when it comes to recouping the losses taxpayers might suffer. I also regret that this bill does not do enough to help average homeowners, or provide sufficient oversight of Wall Street.”[83] For the same reasons, in December 2008, he voted against the bill that offered $14 billion in government loans to bail out the country’s large automobile manufacturers.[84] In June 2009 Walz introduced a bipartisan resolution calling on the federal government to “relinquish its temporary ownership interests in the General Motors Company and the Chrysler Group, LLC, as soon as possible” and stated that the government must not be involved in those companies’ management decisions.[85]
Despite his votes against bailout bills that loaned taxpayer money to large banks and auto manufacturers, Walz did vote with his Democratic colleagues to support the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. As a member of the House Transportation Committee, Walz saw the stimulus bill as an opportunity to work “with his congressional colleagues to make job creation through investment in public infrastructure like roads, bridges and clean energy the cornerstone of the economic recovery plan”.[86] Walz has focused heavily on job and economic issues important to his southern Minnesota district, which has a mix of larger employers like the Mayo Clinic along with small businesses and agricultural interests. In July 2009, he voted for the Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act, which he described as “part of our long-term economic blueprint to spur job creation by encouraging America’s entrepreneurs to innovate toward breakthrough technological advancements”.[87][88] Walz also urged assistance for hog and dairy farmers who struggled with lower prices for their commodities in 2008 and 2009.[89]
Education
Walz was a public school teacher for 20 years. He opposes using merit pay for teachers.[90] Voting in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Walz pointed to its strong provisions in support of public school buildings.[91][92] He is on record supporting legislation to lower tuition costs.[93] In a February 12, 2009 speech, he said that the most important thing to do “to ensure a solid base for [America’s] economic future … is to provide the best education possible for [American] children.”[94] Walz has received strong backing for these policies from many interest groups, including the National Education Association, the American Association of University Women and the National Association of Elementary School Principals.[95]
Guns
While in Congress, Walz was a strong supporter of gun rights and was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) multiple times, receiving an A grade from the organization.[96][97] Following the Parkland high school shooting in 2018, he denounced the NRA in a Star Tribune opinion piece, and announced that he would donate the equivalent of all of the campaign contributions the NRA-PVF had given him—$18,000—to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.[98] As governor, Walz expressed support for gun regulation.[99] In 2023, he signed into law a public safety bill that establishes universal background checks and red-flag laws in Minnesota.[100]
LGBT rights
Walz supports LGBTQ rights, including federal anti-discrimination laws on the basis of sexual orientation.[90] In a 2009 speech, he called for an end to the Don’t ask, don’t tell policy. Walz voted in favor of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and the Sexual Orientation Employment Nondiscrimination Act. In 2007, he received a 90% grade from the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT rights organization.[42] In 2011, Walz announced his support for the Respect for Marriage Act.[101] As governor, Walz has signed a number of bills that support the LGBTQ community. In 2023, he signed a bill that banned the practice of conversion therapy and another that protected gender-affirming care in Minnesota.[102]
Israel–Hamas war
Walz condemned Hamas’s October 7 attacks in Israel and ordered flags to be lowered to half mast in the following days. After the 2024 Minnesota Democratic presidential primary, in which 19% of voters cast “uncommitted” ballots, Walz took a sympathetic view toward those doing so to protest President Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza, calling them “civically engaged”.
Of the protests against U.S. funding of the war in Gaza, Walz said: “This issue is a humanitarian crisis. They have every right to be heard… These folks are asking for a change in course, they’re asking for more pressure to be put on… You can hold competing things: that Israel has the right to defend itself, and the atrocities of October 7 are unacceptable, but Palestinian civilians being caught in this… has got to end.” Walz also said he supports a ceasefire in Gaza.[103]
Veterans’ issues
Having served 24 years in the Army National Guard, as a freshman in Congress Walz was given a rare third committee membership when he was assigned to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.[104] Walz has championed enhanced veterans benefits since taking office in 2007. In May of that year, the House unanimously passed his “Traumatic Brain Injuries Center Act” to set up five centers around the nation to study traumatic brain injuries and develop improved models for caring for veterans suffering from such injuries.[105]
Walz also supported the GI Bill of 2008, which expanded education benefits for veterans and in some cases allowed them to transfer education benefits to family members.[106] In 2009, Walz gave the keynote address at the American Legion National Convention in Louisville. He spoke about the need for the VA and Department of Defense to work together to make sure that returning service men and women “do not fall through the cracks when they transition to civilian life”.[107]
Walz was the lead House sponsor of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, which directs the Veterans Administration to report on veteran mental health care and suicide prevention programs. It also gives the VA permission to provide incentives to psychiatrists who agree to join the VA medical system.[108]
Women’s issues
Walz supports abortion rights,[90] and has a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood.[42] The National Right to Life Committee gave him a rating of zero.[42] In early 2009, Walz voted for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.[109]
This is why I’m sad to be losing him in Minnesota, but he’s going to be good for the country as a whole.
Sounds good on paper and Minnesotans seem to like him, I’ll be curious to see if he actually moves the needle any or contributes to the race. Potentially he could provide a bump after a debate with Vance, something akin to Biden’s VP debate performance against Paul Ryan after Obama seemed to flounder in his debate(s) against Romney, though I don’t think he’ll really sink the ticket any. Assuming he doesn’t make any huge blunders, he might be like Tim Kaine in 2016 and just not do anything.
As a Minnesotan, I’m disappointed to be losing our governor. He’s done great things for our state, but I’m hopeful that the Lt. Governor who will be taking his place will be a good replacement.
Walz’s ascension to the ticket leaves questions for Minnesota. Under the state Constitution, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan would become governor if Walz resigns, but he’s not on the ballot in Minnesota this fall, meaning he could wait until after the November election to step down. Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Nation, would become Minnesota’s first woman and first Native American governor.
Peggy Flanagan seems great and seems like she will be great for the state, but unfortunately she isn’t nearly as electable in MN as Walz was. Walz was a down to earth highschool teacher, where Flanagan is a city born life long activist. I don’t think she’ll be able to swing the rural votes when reelection comes up. She comes across as very cosmopolitan which isn’t a bad thing but it won’t win her any rural votes in a state which is mostly rural.
