Minnesota is in the spotlight with Gov. Tim Walz named Tuesday, Aug. 6, as the running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris in her campaign for president.
MinnPost reported Harris’ choice of Walz was based on a number of factors, including his ties to Capitol Hill and his leadership of the Democratic Governors Association.
Colleagues told MinnPost that Walz has other strengths as well, including his representation of a red district in Congress for a dozen years that highlighted his willingness to consider the concerns of conservative and moderate constituents.
But not all Minnesotans see Walz as the moderate many have touted him as.
“He’s way, way too far left. He’s almost socialist — same as Harris," said 74-year-old Grand Rapids resident Greg, who asked to be identified by his first name only. He said he never voted for Walz and he still won't.
“I mean, he failed in the [Twin] Cities, he has failed all over the state, he failed during that uprising down there and the fires and everything.”
But 65-year-old Helen Miltich, also of Grand Rapids, thinks Walz will be a great running mate, pointing to his experience.
“When COVID started and ... we all had to shelter in place and the National Guard was called out, and all the things they did to help with that situation down in the Cities — he just seemed really, you know, like someone you can trust," Miltich said.
Former Republican state Rep. Sandy Layman told KAXE she is surprised by how quickly Walz rose to the top of the VP short list.
"I think that it will raise the profile of Minnesota and I think that he’s probably a good match for Kamala Harris, because I think their politics line up pretty closely,” Layman said.
But she says she does not see Walz as a candidate who will energize moderates or independents, based on his record.
“When Tim Walz was first elected governor in Minnesota, I think he received votes from many moderates who were hoping he would govern in a moderate fashion," Layman said. "He has not done that. I don’t know — he'll probably continue to be more of a progressive on the Harris ticket.”
History in the making?
If Harris wins the presidential election, Walz will resign his governorship, allowing Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan to ascend to the state’s top executive role.
This would make the White Earth band member the first Indigenous woman to serve as governor of any state. Flanagan would also be Minnesota’s first female governor and first Indigenous governor.
At the White Earth Nation’s inauguration ceremony for its elected leaders Tuesday, many shared their excitement about the possibility of Flanagan becoming Minnesota’s governor. White Earth Chairman Michael Fairbanks was sworn in to his second term.
Fairbanks said he is hopeful that such a move at the top of state government would bring positive change for the White Earth Nation and beyond.
"We will have another ear that will listen to our nation and the concerns that we have, and I think it’s positive,” Fairbanks said.
White Earth Band member and DFL delegate Justin Keezer said he thinks Minnesota is ready for this kind of leadership change.
“I think it'll go a long way to ... creating relationships instead of [it] always being where there's division,” Keezer said. “I think that it's high time that something like this happens.”
With Flanagan in the governor’s mansion, Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Bobby Joe Champion would be the next lieutenant governor. Democrats in the Senate currently have a one-vote majority with Champion, and a special election would take place in his metro-area district if he becomes lieutenant governor.
