Walz picks up Minnesota’s ‘politics of joy’ baton for Harris campaign, 2024 race
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Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz set a tone of hope and happiness in their first rally on Tuesday in Philadelphia, from the Democratic vice presidential candidate’s first words through his closing remarks.
Walz thanked Harris for “bringing back the joy” as he took the microphone — a sentiment that has Minnesota roots dating back to the ‘60s.
Minnesota’s Hubert Humphrey used similar language when launching his 1968 presidential campaign, following President Lyndon B. Johnson’s decision not to seek reelection.
“Here we are, just as we ought to be,” Humphrey proclaimed. “Here we are the people. Here we are in the spirit of dedication. Here we are the way politics ought to be in America, the politics of happiness, the politics of purpose and the politics of joy.”
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Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, talked about the politics of joy with MPR News Morning Edition host Cathy Wurzer on Wednesday.
“He was the OG, the original happy warrior here from Minnesota,” Murphy said about Humphrey. “And I am thrilled with the Harris-Walz ticket and the emergence of hope, the emergence of purpose in our politics, and yes, a politics of joy. Because when we’re doing our democracy right, people should feel a part of it.”
Added Murphy, “I have felt so much energy and excitement and yeah, joy about the Harris emergence as a candidate, and with Tim Walz joining that ticket, I think we’re going to export from Minnesota across the country the idea of an intentional people-centered politics.”
Humphrey faced criticism from some pundits that his exuberant messaging was out of touch with much of the country. At the time, half a million Americans were at war in Vietnam, Martin Luther King, Jr., has just been assassinated in Memphis, riots plagued the nation and inflation was on the rise.
In 2024, Russia-Ukraine remain entangled in war, as do Israel and Hamas. The country is still feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The deaths of several unarmed Black Americans — including George Floyd — by police continue to shape statutes and spur conversation about ethical law enforcement. Inflation and interest rates remain high.
Against that backdrop, Republican vice-presidential hopeful JD Vance, along with Harris and Walz are holding competing rallies in Wisconsin on Wednesday.
Murphy herself adopted the “politics of joy” mantra during a run against Walz for governor in 2018. She believes the Democrat’s positive and unifying messaging will be more effective than the anger or resentment shown by Vance and former President Donald Trump.
“I think people are attracted to that because in the end … if we’re doing this work right is for people, the voters, to see that they have a stake in the matter and that they have power in their choice,” Murphy said.
While there’s no true benchmark for campaign success by unit of joy, Murphy believes uplifting messaging and a vision for the future will do more for voters than rehashing past accomplishments.
Voters are “not interested in that report card. They are interested in what we’re going to do to improve their lives,” she said, acknowledging Walz wouldn’t be on the ticket if he didn’t have a history of achievements.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, also a Democrat, called joy “fundamental” on Morning Edition Wednesday.
Voters “have to have a sense that through working together, through politics or through just even a community event, that they can make a difference,” Ellison said. “And so a campaign that doesn’t have joy, that doesn’t have fun, that doesn’t have a sense of hope and optimism, doesn’t get that discretionary volunteering, that doesn’t get that extra donation that they could get from somebody who’s feeling warm and kind of positive and fired up.”
Murphy hopes Harris and Walz will translate into winning down-ballot races. That includes holding onto the Democrats’ paper-thin majority in the Minnesota Senate in a special election.