08/10 – International News Update & Story

Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate earlier this week. 

Walz, 60, has been Minnesota’s Democratic Governor since 2018, as well as a U.S. Army National Guard veteran, former schoolteacher and football coach. Walz was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006, representing a Republican-leaning district for 12 years before being elected as Minnesota’s governor in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.

“Tim is a battle-tested leader who has an incredible track record of getting things done for Minnesota families,” Harris told supporters. [Reuters]

Walz has pushed a progressive agenda that includes free school meals, goals for tackling climate change, tax cuts for the middle class and expanded paid leave for workers. [Reuters]

Walz was not very popular or nationally recognized at all until the Democratic race for VP pick kicked off in the past two weeks, and the Governor was ultimately selected over other assumed choices like Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. 

Walz gained significant attention in the past couple weeks, in part due to his use of the word “weird” to describe Trump and Vance—an insult that was embraced and adopted by the Harris campaign, quickly spread on social media by Democratic activists. 

Walz has also challenged the middle-class credentials claimed by Trump and Vance. In an MSNBC interview, he remarked, “They talk about the middle class, but a wealthy real estate mogul and a venture capitalist claiming to understand us? They don’t know who we are.” [Reuters]

Harris’ decision to pick Walz was likely  influenced by both electoral strategy and a desire to avoid intra-party disputes. On Tuesday Aug 6, she joined him at a rally in Philadelphia alongside Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, who was once a frontrunner for the vice-presidential spot but lost momentum due to criticism of his stance on the Gaza conflict and his support for school vouchers. Unlike Mr. Shapiro, Mr. Walz has seen his popularity rise recently, particularly among the Democratic Party’s left wing. However, Mr. Walz lacks the name recognition in key swing states that Mr. Shapiro might have brought the ticket. [The Economist] 

Minnesota, Mr. Walz’s home state, hasn’t voted for a Republican president since 1972, and current polls suggest it isn’t likely to flip in the upcoming election.

Mr. Walz’s appeal lies in his political acumen and personal story. Recently, he has become a vocal advocate for Harris, with his sharp critique of Republicans gaining traction as a broader Democratic talking point. His background contrasts with Harris’s; born in rural Nebraska in 1964, he attended a school where many of his classmates were relatives. Walz spent two decades as a teacher and served in the National Guard for 24 years, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major. A committed hunter, he once held an A rating from the National Rifle Association during his early years in Congress. [The Economist] 

Despite his past positions, which were considered more conservative, Mr. Walz has embraced a progressive agenda as governor, including increased spending on public schools, free school meals, paid family leave, legalized marijuana, expanded background checks for gun buyers, and strengthened abortion rights. 

On foreign policy, Mr. Walz’s views can be traced back to a 2007 speech in which he criticized the Bush administration’s focus on security over diplomacy and emphasized the importance of human rights in American policy. As governor, he signed legislation to divest state investments in Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, although he resisted similar calls regarding Israel.  [The Economist] 

Mr. Walz’s record does have its stains, particularly regarding his response to the Minneapolis riots following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. The killing of Floyd, a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer, who was later convicted of murder, ignited widespread protests and exposed deep racial tensions both in the U.S. and abroad. Critics argue that Walz was slow to act, hesitating to deploy the National Guard to curb the looting, arson, and violence that ensued. This delay became a major point of contention, especially after a police station was set ablaze by protestors. Walz’s handling of this crisis has been a significant source of criticism, particularly from those who believe he did not act swiftly enough to maintain order.

More recently, his administration faced criticism over a massive fraud scheme involving funds intended for child nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, there are some concerns about his personal life, including a past DUI arrest in 1995, though he was ultimately convicted of reckless driving. [The Economist] 

The choice of Ms Harris at the top of the ticket has changed the race. In our polling average, the Democrats’ candidate is now ahead in the national vote for the first time since October 2023. Yet this election is still very close. That slender national lead, if it is real, would probably translate into something that approaches a 50% chance of winning in the electoral college. When Mr Trump is just a coin-toss away from another four years, a safety-first strategy is not wise.

Opinion:

Walz has labeled himself as an avid hunter and gun owner with deep connections to rural American voters which have in majority staunchly voted for Trump in the past couple elections. 

The Trump campaign has attacked the selection by painting Walz as overly liberal similar to Kamala Harris and emphasizing the fact that their liberal politics are out of touch with a majority of Americans’ values. 

Walz’s straightforward comments and simple form of criticism that plainly labels the Republican leaders as “weird”, appears to connect with their public base more effectively than the sweeping statements of other Trump critics, who up until now relied heavily on a Democratic campaign that primarily depicted the Republican presidential candidate as an existential threat to democracy. 

Tim Walz’s journey to the national political stage is marked by a diverse and unconventional career path, standing out in a field of carefully crafted career politicians and bureaucrats. 

From a geography teacher and lunchroom monitor to a high-school football coach, National Guard reservist, congressman, and state governor, Walz’s background is refreshingly varied. His first foray into politics came in his 40s when he ran for office in a rural Minnesota district that was widely considered unwinnable. A lover of hunting, maps, and small-town humor, Walz is notably the first non-lawyer on the Democratic ticket since 1980.

Harris might have seemingly gone with Walz as her running mate for his vibes, but the choice does hold its own political risks. Walz was the preferred choice of the party’s online left and labor unions, raising concerns that Harris’s decision may reflect a tendency to align with this faction of the party, or that she prioritizes party unity above all else. This could be a concern for her campaign, as winning key states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin requires appealing to voters who find the Democrats too left-leaning but are also dissatisfied with Donald Trump. This balancing act was central to Joe Biden’s success in 2020, despite Trump’s perceived eccentricities. On average, Americans still view Democrats as more out of touch than Republicans. [The Economist]

To win over moderates, Harris needs to be more vocal about her opposition to illegal immigration and her independence from special-interest groups, including teachers’ unions.

By selecting Walz, Harris has appeased the left wing of her party, but she will need to do more to ensure broader appeal if she wants to defeat Trump in November. 

– P.T.