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Up until Monday afternoon, Nebraska-born Minnesota Governor Tim Walz enjoyed a relatively low national profile. Now? Type his name into any search engine, and sure enough, the words “vice president” are likely to appear afterward. Despite his name floating around various possible shortlists that the Harris campaign had been considering, many had wrongfully assumed that the campaign would select a more notable name to join Harris on the ticket, such as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro or Arizona Senator Mark Kelly (we even made similar predictions here at Pragmat). Yet, in choosing Walz, the Harris campaign created quite the intrigue and, in doing so, launched Walz, his wife Gwen, and his entire political record into the spotlight. Though Walz had significant policy achievements under his belt in his own state, from legalising recreational cannabis in 2023 to introducing free breakfast and lunch for students while at school, the majority of Americans had no idea who he was before Monday. Well, that’s not entirely true.
Walz perhaps began to cause conversation by leading the strategic “weird” label that Democrats have since adopted to describe the Trump-Vance Campaign and the Republican bid for the White House. Very quickly after Walz first deployed the jab, the description spread like wildfire, being used by Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on a selection of appearances in support of the Harris for America campaign and later by Harris herself in a campaign rally in Houston, Texas. In doing so, Walz not only brought attention to himself and amplified murmurings about being a possible contender for the role but also defined himself and highlighted his distinct political brand. Meet Tim (not Timothy) Walz: America’s no-nonsense, rough-around-the-edges, straight-talking Midwestern Dad. Since labelling Trump as “weird,” Walz has carried on with this straightforward and relatable style in three campaign rallies yesterday since his VP candidate announcement at rallies with Harris in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Eau Claire, Wisconsin; and Detroit, Michigan. Walz is now making use of the phrase “Mind your own business” which he is now introducing as the golden rule of the vision he and Harris are pitching to Americans. While Harris’s original bid focused on freedom, Walz underscores a vital angle to the Democratic message for 2024 on issues like reproductive justice and book banning; respect for individual choices and freedom to instead of freedom against.
Check out Walz's first rally speech as the Democratic VP candidate
In the last 24 hours, pundits have virtually done all but turn themselves inside out when trying to explain the benefits he adds to the campaign, and the broad consensus is that Walz may have originally been the underdog choice, but he certainly packs a punch. Walz appears to be the best of both worlds, being both familiar with the federal government due to his tenure as a congressman representing Minnesota’s first district between 2007 to 2019, and also with state government, having been elected to serve as governor in 2019. Walz is also seen to be a strategically beneficial choice, given his Midwestern roots and blunt style, which Dems hope appeal to Middle America. Additionally, Walz’s military background, on account of his service in the National Guard for 24 years, where he left the military at the rank of Sergeant Major, is an asset. What is perhaps incredibly appealing about Walz is the poignancy of his personal experiences and how the campaign hopes these will resonate with voters. For instance, having personally experienced the emotional toll of various rounds of IVF as he and his wife struggled with infertility, Walz’s personal commitment to reproductive justice has been reflected in his political career, most notably with Minnesota being the first US state to codify abortion rights after the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson SCOTUS decision. Additionally, losing his father to cancer has empowered him to support healthcare access with a proven record of supporting the Affordable Care Act.
What is perhaps most memorable about Walz is his appetite for political confrontation. Walz has already called for a debate against Vance, Trump’s running mate, and has not backed down from comparing his resume against the relatively new senator’s (Vance joining the senate as Ohio’s junior senator in 2022). “Like all regular people,” Walz stated at Tuesday’s Philadelphia rally, “I grew up in the heartland. J.D. studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley billionaires, and then wrote a bestseller trashing that community.” In doing so, Walz is attempting to paint himself in a more relatable light than Vance, who earlier in the race attempted to use the same Middle America approach by bringing attention to his own Kentuckian background. Despite being known by fewer Americans than Vance, Walz’s approval ratings are stronger and appear to be on the incline, as Vance has struggled to capitalise on his favourability since the RNC boost he gained when confirmed as Trump’s running mate by the Republican party.
As the race develops and more data is collected, we will get to see a clearer picture of America’s feelings towards Walz and whether or not he will maintain the momentum he seems to be currently riding. Though for now, the quick-witted (though far from polished) and ever-smiling Minnesota governor, who endearingly believes that turkey is vegetarian, seems to have captured the affections of major figures in the party, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Nancy Pelosi, who in public appearances have spoken in strong support of his selection to the ticket.
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