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Thursday, April 24, 2025
August 6, 2024
William Upton
Analysis
Election 2024

Kamala Picks Tim Walz as Her Running Mate. Here’s More About the Far Left Originator of the ‘Weird’ Attack Line, With Strong Links to Minnesota’s Muslim Population.

Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) is the Democratic Party’s 2024 vice presidential nominee. Sixty-year-old Walz was elected governor of Minnesota in 2019 and currently serves as the 41st Governor. Before his ascension to the governor’s mansion, Walz served in Congress, representing Minnesota’s first congressional district—having been first elected in 2007.

But who is he really?

THE CONGRESSIONAL EVERYMAN.

Where most of the Democratic vice presidential field lacked natural authenticity—an issue for Harris as well—Walz, honestly, oozes it. The Minnesota Governor gives off the ‘everyman’ vibe, being slightly on the hefty side with white hair and often wearing rumpled suits. Like Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), Walz even looks relatively comfortable in his own skin while dressed down in a simple t-shirt and shorts—a test the rest of the Democrats in consideration easily fail.

In addition to the ‘everyman’ look, Walz has governed as a progressive and left-wing populist—in the mold of Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). A former U.S. Army non-commissioned officer, Walz was able to brandish his populist streak—along with a focus on constituent services—to entrench himself in a nominally Republican congressional seat for over a decade.

While serving in Congress, the Minnesota Democrat opposed George W. Bush‘s push to increase troop levels in Iraq. Additionally, Walz backed legislative proposals to increase the minimum wage and pay-as-you-go budget rules and voted to authorize Medicare to negotiate pharmaceutical prices.

Despite his progressive bona fides, Walz also carved out a reputation as someone who could reach across the aisle. In the 114th Congress, he was ranked as the 7th most bipartisan member according to analysis by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy.

A FAR-LEFT GOVERNOR & GEORGE FLOYD.

After being elected Governor of Minnesota, Walz—at least in part—has continued to try and keep up his ‘everyman’ image. However, in recent years, Walz has become increasingly radical on a range of issues, including policing and transgenderism.

Reacting to the video of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, Walz expressed condemnation for the actions of the Minneapolis police—likely helping to taint public opinion against law enforcement and encouraging anti-police activists. “The lack of humanity in this disturbing video is sickening,” Walz stated, adding: “We will get answers and seek justice.”

Further enflaming anti-police action, Walz called the Minnesota legislature into a special session to force through legislation that would radically overhaul and hamstring the ability of police departments’ ability to fight crime. After the radical, progressive-backed legislation failed to pass, Walz forced a second special session and pushed through only a slightly modified version of the original radical anti-police bill.

During the 2023 legislative session—with Democratic majorities in the legislature—Walz pushed through a whole gamut of progressive policy goals. The Minnesota governor signed into law legislation legalizing marijuana, codifying abortion rights, requiring universal gun background checks, enacting universal free school meals, and increasing spending on far-left environmentalist policies. The Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Star Tribune called last year’s legislative session “one of the most consequential” in the state’s history.

Lastly, Walz has built strong ties with Minnesota’s Somali population—creating a power base in the Muslim community. While Gov. Shaprio’s Jewish ethnicity and faith—along with his past service in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and support for Israel—could become a dangerous wedge between Democrats and Arab American and Muslim voters, Walz would conversely bolster support among the critical Minnesota and Michigan voter bloc.

A NOTABLE LACK OF VETTING ISSUES. 

Whereas the other Democrat contenders to be Kamala Harris‘s running mate have faced vetting issues, Walz—at least for now—appears to have little in the way of personal controversies. The two other top contenders for the job have faced arguably disqualifying problems. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) saw his chances diminish after it was revealed the high-altitude balloon company he founded had supplied technology to China, likely aiding the country’s spy balloon program. In the case of Gov. Josh Shapiro, the Pennslyvania Democrat is accused of covering up sexual harassment allegations against a staffer during his tenure as the state’s Attorney General.

Though Walz’s progressive agenda as governor would further fuel attacks on Harris as being too far-left and out of touch with normal Americans, his abilities as a retail politician and image as being an ‘everyman’ do help to balance against Harris’s more aloof and inauthentic demeanor.

While Republicans might savor the prospects of a Walz vice-presidential nomination, they need only look at his viral social media moments to understand the danger he could pose.

Walz is the originator of the Democratic Party’s “weird” line of attack on former President Donald J. Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH).

In September of last year, Walz went viral on X (formerly Twitter) for an endearing video with his daughter promoting the Minnesota State Fair.

WATCH: 

By Popular Demand.
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