On Tuesday, Harris announced Walz—a veteran and former school teacher who held a pivotal Minnesota congressional seat for over a decade and won the governorship twice—as her pick. The choice aims to shore up support among blue-collar, white voters in the Rust Belt. Walz gained prominence after several interviews that energized Democrats, including his now-famous critique of the GOP ticket as “weird.” Harris’ pick directly contradicts Trump’s choice of Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate.
Republicans are busy trying to brand the relatively unknown Minnesota governor as a far-left “radical” and “wannabe” coastal elite, mirroring how Democrats have relentlessly criticized Vance since his selection.
Dave Carney, a Republican strategist with the pro-Trump super PAC Preserve America, sees Walz’s record as a gift to the GOP. “This guy has done so much; he’s going to be a goldmine for battleground states. They really messed up,” Carney said.
Republicans have already begun attacking Walz’s progressive stances, linking him to the far-left wing of the Democratic Party by spotlighting his support from Sen. Bernie Sanders and others. Vance claimed the pick “highlights how radical Kamala Harris is,” suggesting that Harris’ choice was influenced by internal party factions.
Vance also left a voicemail congratulating Walz and expressed eagerness for a debate once Walz is officially the Democratic vice-presidential nominee.
Walz first entered Congress in 2006, representing a rural, conservative district. While there, he opposed the TARP bailout and supported gun rights, even receiving an endorsement from the NRA before denouncing the group after the 2018 Parkland shooting.
As governor since 2018, Walz has governed as a mainstream Democrat. After the 2022 midterms, when Democrats controlled the state legislature, he signed numerous progressive measures into law, including universal background checks, protections for gender-affirming care, and free school lunches.
Republicans are focusing on his handling of the George Floyd protests in Minneapolis, criticizing him for his delayed response in deploying the National Guard. They’re also highlighting a 2020 tweet from Harris encouraging donations to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, an organization that posted bail for activists arrested during those protests.
A Trump pollster, John McLaughlin, believes Walz’s selection benefits the GOP. McLaughlin said it’s still a battle between Trump and Harris, but this is her first big decision, and she picked a socialist who supported defunding the police and bailing people out.
Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to Trump, revived criticism of Walz’s service record, reposting a 2018 op-ed from veterans questioning his military service.
Democrats quickly countered, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defending Walz’s record as a centrist. “To label him as left is just so unreal. He’s right down the middle, a heartland Democrat,” Pelosi said.
While Trump’s allies were busy attacking Walz, some Republicans praised Harris’s choice. Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, now a U.S. Senate nominee, congratulated Walz and acknowledged his dedication to public service.
Republicans worried Harris might pick Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and felt relieved that Walz was chosen instead. Carney expressed surprise that Democrats passed over Shapiro for Walz, whom he described as an “old, fat guy” who is “as progressive as you get.”
However, even Republicans admit that a vice-presidential pick will unlikely change their overall strategy. Carney’s group has started brainstorming ways to attack Walz while continuing to target Harris. Preserve America has already launched anti-Harris ads on television.
The GOP faces strong Democratic enthusiasm for Walz, who is being widely praised for his effectiveness and alignment with key party issues. This support spans beyond progressives, with Sen. Joe Manchin, who left the Democratic Party, lauding Walz’s potential to bring balance and unity.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described the current state of the Democratic party as being in a state of “disconcerting levels of array.”
