Lt. Gov. Flanagan on Walz’s skills, flubs, tribal relations and potential promotion

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will accept the Democratic vice presidential nomination Wednesday evening in Chicago during a primetime speech — a chance to introduce himself to the nation two weeks into his role as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate.

If the Harris-Walz ticket prevails, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will become the state’s first female governor and the country’s first female Native American governor.

Flanagan, who is also in Chicago serving as co-chair of the Democratic National Convention, joined Morning Edition Host Cathy Wurzer by phone to talk about Walz’s and her own future.

What do you think we might hear during Gov. Walz’s speech?

I think we are going to hear all about just his life as a coach, a teacher, a veteran and all the good work we’ve been able to do here in Minnesota. And, of course, why he is such a tremendous partner for Vice President Harris. And why she will be the next President of the United States, and how she is highly qualified to do so.

Former first lady Michelle Obama addressed racism and sexism that women of color and in leadership face. What did you think of her speech? And why do you think that this is the year and a candidate who will finally break through that?

Well, I think that is something that unfortunately exists in our politics, but I also know how incredibly hard Vice President Harris has worked. And one of the beautiful things about this moment is that we know what a woman executive looks like. She has already proven it as vice president.

And I think that transition to president, people have seen it, and I think that it eases that transition… makes people excited and know that she’s ready for the top job. And listen, I absolutely have experienced that myself, but you need to just focus on the next good thing and what’s right in front of you. And I have watched her do so with grace.

I think Mrs. Obama did an incredible job last night. She said a lot of things that needed to be said, and now we focus on moving forward.

Gov. Walz has had some verbal flubs recently, he has misspoken in the past, maybe made some inaccurate, inconsistent public comments — how much do you think that this is going to make a difference on these on a national stage?

Well, I think the last two weeks you have seen Gov. Walz on the campaign trail full of joy and enthusiasm. And what I hear Gov. Walz talking about, again, is just the vision that he has for America… the economic agenda that they laid out. I am so excited about it. The child tax credit, the $6,000 for families with infants, when that is a time, often, when new families have the least amount of support.…

The national spotlight is on the governor, but it’s also on the state of Minnesota. And I think that’s what I am really focused on in this moment.

The business of state government rolls along despite Walz running nationally. The budget process is already in full swing. What’s your role in that?

So my role in crafting the budget is the same. You know, Minnesota has watched us govern in partnership side-by-side from day one; that won’t change. And so as we’re crafting the budget right now, working with our state agencies, I work in partnership with the policy team, as does the governor. And so I’m grateful for the six years that we’ve had together doing this work side-by-side because it absolutely has prepared all of us for what’s next.

[The] 2025 budget is coming up, and of course, you know, additional policies, but we’ve got a little bit of time before we have to have to make that public. But Minnesota should know that that work is absolutely happening.

Walz talked to the Native American Caucus at the DNC on Monday, underlining that in Minnesota tribal sovereignty is ’not lip service. It’s every single day about every single decision that needs to be made.’ And I’m wondering how that might look under a Flanagan administration

Well, I think that work continues. You know, the governor wanted to make tribal-state relations a top priority, and he wanted Minnesota to be a model that other states could look to. We’ve absolutely done that. So that is work that will continue.

And I’m excited about the work we’ve been able to do in partnership with tribal leaders and with the urban Native community. And what I’m really excited about is what this means also for the country. Minnesota, of course, I think is stronger because of it, but we will have never seen a ticket like the Harris-Walz ticket, and what that will mean for Indian Country. And I will just continue to do that work, either way, in a new role or in my current role.

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