In Minnesota, Walz’s VP nod wins bouquets, brickbats

Great guy. Disaster. Excellent choice. Empty suit.

Minnesotans of all political persuasions weighed in Tuesday on the news that Gov. Tim Walz will be Kamala Harris’ presidential running mate heading into the November election.

Opinions ran across the spectrum of state and national politics. Here’s a sampling of some of what Minnesotans are saying.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum

“Tim is a rock-solid Democrat, a teacher, a football coach, a veteran and a leader who will defend our freedoms and will work to improve the lives of all Americans in every corner of our country.”

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Michelle Jahn, potential voter from Wayzata

“I think he is way too Democratic, I don’t think he has experience in the international markets and it is concerning to me to have someone like him a heartbeat away from the presidency. And I truly hope that Kamala Harris does not make president, because I don’t think she’s qualified.”

John Kendall, potential voter from St. Paul

Kendall said he happily surprised to hear Walz joined the Democratic ticket. “I’ll be interested to see what he does bring to the ticket, I think he brings some moderation and I think he hopefully will bring a Midwest vibe.”

Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer

“He embodies the same disastrous economic, open-borders and soft-on-crime policies Harris has inflicted on our country the last four years. Walz is an empty suit who has worked to turn Minnesota into Harris’ home state of California and solidifies this ticket’s full embrace of a radical, America-last agenda.”

Abou Amara, Democratic political analyst

“He was the candidate who was able to pull together various parts of the coalition. He wasn’t too hot, he wasn’t too cold, he was just right for the moment. And when you think about the others who were in this race, they had structural deficits within the party, and I think Gov. Walz will be able to bring together the various coalitions. And I think that’s ultimately why he was chosen.”

Chas Anderson, GOP strategist

“I definitely think Minnesota’s record over the past two years will be heavily scrutinized and will be on a national stage, good and bad. I think there’s a lot of good things he can point to, particularly that, you know, will be attractive to independent and Democratic voters. I think there’s a lot that could be negatively scrutinized, such as the COVID fraud — Feeding our Future — [and] his handling of the riots in 2020.”

Gary Wertish, Minnesota Farmers Union president

“He’s grown up in a rural community in Nebraska and working in Mankato as a teacher, so he’s got a lot of rural roots, and his years as a congressman, he’s worked on farm bills, so he definitely understands agriculture well.”

Former Minnesota GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty

While Pawlenty said he doesn’t support Walz politically, he called him a “talented campaigner. I mean he is energetic, he’s a good speaker, although he does do the Walz word-salad thing. But I am sure they will tighten that up, get him on a Teleprompter, get him on-message. But he is willing to be you know the attack-dog which is an important part of being a VP candidate.”

Grant Binford, Luverne farmer

Despite Walz’s rural background, Binford says Walz’s platform does not sit well with rural voters like him. “As far as on our Christian base side of things, the whole transgender movement, the abortion movement, certainly doesn’t resonate well in outstate, Minnesota. The other situations, from a tax standpoint and stuff to regulation. You know, we’re in the livestock business. Minnesota’s not a friendly climate for that.”

Robert Lilligren, Native American Community Development Institute

Walz brings “a huge awareness of the importance of these government-to-government relationships with tribes. And also, I think, a high awareness of the importance of engaging directly with urban Indian communities as well.”

Republican U.S. Rep. Brad Finstad

Finstad represents the conservative 1st District in southern Minnesota, which Walz represented for six terms. Finstad said the rural community there no longer supports Walz. “I hear it all over southern Minnesota that is not the same guy that represented us in Congress. And it isn’t just me saying this ... But this is also folks like the NRA, the farm groups, the biofuels folks, those that have actually supported him in the past, who have said, ‘Boy, buyer's remorse.’”

Gunnard Landers, Maplewood

"I think he (Walz) brings a certain amount of decency and reliability. He doesn't have any of these wild flights of behavior. And I think that's what we need as much as anything in this country, is some stability and predictability."

Brian McLaughlin, potential voter from North Mankato

McLaughlin said he admires Walz's "practicality" and his military service in the National Guard. Walz “doesn't pull any punches. I think he's down-to-earth. And, of course, he comes from Mankato, so that helps, and I respect him for his military service."McLaughlin said he’s adamant about making sure people vote this November."I'm really feeling like this one, we're defending our Constitution.”