Tim Walz: Ace For Victory Or Burden For Kamala Harris – Analysis

As the fever builds ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November, these are shaping up to be some of the most important elections in recent American history. No matter how they turn out, they have already resulted in unexpected twists that will be recorded in history books.

Republican candidate Donald Trump narrowly survived a well-organized assassination attempt, while Democratic candidate Joe Biden was replaced, or rather ousted in an internal coup, when it became clear to everyone that he could not secure victory. The promotion of Kamala Harris from vice president to the Democratic presidential candidate opened the door for a new vice presidential candidate. In early August, factions within the Democratic Party decided that the choice would be Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. A rather unexpected candidate, Walz, like any politician, has his strengths and weaknesses, which could either bring victory or defeat.

Early Life

Timothy James Walz was born on April 6, 1964, in West Point, Nebraska. He grew up in a working-class family in rural Nebraska and has shaped himself into a determined and moderate politician focused on the interests of ordinary Americans. He did not come from a political family (his father was a teacher and a Korean War veteran, and his mother a homemaker), and his inclination toward politics developed over time. Walz graduated from high school in 1982. A year later, he lost his father to lung cancer. After that, he worked on farms and in factories for several years while serving in the National Guard. In 1987, he enrolled in Chadron State College in Nebraska, where he earned a degree in social sciences in 1989.

Following in his father’s footsteps as an educator, Walz spent a year teaching in China before returning to Nebraska to continue teaching and coaching American football. During his work, Walz met fellow teacher Gwen Whipple, whom he married in 1994. Two years later, they moved to Minnesota, his wife’s home state. Walz began teaching geography and coaching football as an assistant defense coordinator at Mankato West High School. In 1999, he helped his football team win its first state title.

While teaching and coaching, Walz continued to serve in the National Guard, with assignments in Europe, the Arctic Circle, and U.S. states like Arkansas and Texas. In 1995, he was stopped by police for speeding and drunk driving. He subsequently quit drinking alcohol. Walz claims that in 2004 he took a group of students to a campaign rally for President George W. Bush. However, the group was denied entry because one student had a sticker supporting Bush’s Democratic opponent, John Kerry. The incident angered Walz, who felt the students were unfairly excluded from the political process. In response, he decided to become actively involved in Kerry’s campaign. Although Kerry lost the election, Walz’s political career began there. Some media have questioned the veracity of this account.

Political Career in Congress

In 2006, Walz decided to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, which encompassed rural parts of the state. His path was clear since no one wanted to run against the Republican incumbent Gil Gutknecht, who had already served six terms in Congress. Walz won the election with 53% of the vote on a wave of American dissatisfaction with the Iraq War led by the Bush administration. He was re-elected to Congress five times, even in 2016, despite Donald Trump’s sweeping victory in the 1st Congressional District. Walz attracted voters with his moderation, willingness to work with both parties, and focus on important issues like education, healthcare, and veterans’ problems.

Specifically, during his time in Congress, Walz advocated for legislative measures aimed at improving healthcare for veterans, securing better conditions for farmers, and enhancing the education system. This moderate political agenda secured him widespread popularity. As a hunter and gun owner, he gained the support of the National Rifle Association (NRA), which promotes the right to own and carry firearms. However, Walz and the NRA clashed in 2018 after a mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida.

Governor of Minnesota

In 2018, Walz was elected the 41st governor of Minnesota, defeating Republican candidate Jeff Johnson. He was re-elected in 2022 and continues to hold the position. As governor, Walz inherited a series of challenges, including growing political divisions, economic inequalities, and then the COVID-19 pandemic and racial unrest following the death of African American George Floyd. After the pandemic broke out in 2020, he quickly introduced measures to prevent the virus from spreading, including school closures, business shutdowns, and mandatory mask-wearing in enclosed spaces. These measures sparked significant resistance due to the economic damage and restrictions on civil liberties.

One misfortune (the coronavirus) was followed by another – the brutal murder of Floyd by police and the racial unrest that ensued. Minneapolis, the state capital of Minnesota, became the epicenter of violent protests led by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. Walz faced the challenge of balancing citizens’ rights to peaceful protest with maintaining order and safety in the city. His response to the protests was a combination of condemning police brutality and activating the National Guard to quell the violence and looting accompanying the protests. Walz emphasized the need for police reform, improving relations between police and communities, and urgently addressing the social issues that had led to great social and racial tensions. As governor, he helped pass laws that secured abortion rights, allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses, provided free meals to all public school students, granted free tuition to college students from poor families, legalized marijuana, and introduced gun control regulations. These are all controversial ideological decisions that have led to fiery divisions between the American left and right.

Vice Presidential Candidate

Although Walz became the chairman of the Democratic Governors Association last year, few expected him to be nominated as vice president in the event that Joe Biden stepped down, which ultimately happened. Walz became the official Democratic vice-presidential candidate on August 6. Many saw Harris’s running mate this year as Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, or Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg from the Biden administration. All of these Democratic politicians are much more prominent and recognizable than Walz, but party factions decided that Walz was the right choice. Why? Primarily because he hails from the crucial Midwest and Rust Belt, where key swing states will decide the election. Walz, as someone from this part of America, can use his political skills, immense energy (he is constantly present at campaign rallies), and unquestionable charisma to attract undecided voters or motivate passive and disillusioned Democrats, thus securing a victory for Harris.

Although Walz’s Minnesota is not considered a leading swing state, it is extremely important as it carries 10 electoral votes. The last Republican presidential candidate to win in Minnesota was Richard Nixon in 1972. However, in recent years, Democratic candidates have narrowly won – Biden by a 7% margin in 2020 and Clinton by a 1.5% margin in 2016. Democrats expect Walz to help Harris win his state, as well as other battleground states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Georgia. They also hope that Walz’s influence on voters will be fruitful in his home state of Nebraska in the congressional elections. In November, elections will be held for the representative of Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District. Democrats expect that, with Walz’s help, their candidate Tony Vargas will defeat Republican Don Bacon.

Advantages

One of Walz’s main advantages is his experience across various sectors of the American economy and public sphere: the military, education, and public administration. As a former member of Congress and the current governor of Minnesota, Walz brings political experience at both the legislative and executive levels. His military career in the Nebraska National Guard, where he served for 24 years, adds credibility, especially on issues related to security and veterans’ affairs. Additionally, as a former teacher, Walz can resonate with the educational community, emphasizing the importance of investment in education and support for teachers.

Another major advantage is his ability to connect with rural voters. Coming from a rural part of Minnesota, Walz has a deep understanding of the problems and needs of voters from smaller communities. His experience representing rural areas of Minnesota could be a key factor in attracting voters from America’s heartland, which are often crucial in close election races. Walz’s advocacy for workers’ rights in rural areas makes him appealing to rural voters.

Interestingly, Walz is one of the poorest vice-presidential candidates in American history. He and his wife have no other sources of income besides the governor’s salary and his wife’s teacher’s salary. The Walz family earns $166,000 a year, which is relatable to many ordinary Americans, most of whom struggle to “make ends meet.” Walz and his wife have two children, conceived through in-vitro fertilization. A third advantage is his advocacy for veterans’ rights. As a veteran himself, Walz has personal experience with the challenges veterans face, particularly in healthcare and reintegration into civilian life. His dedication to improving veterans’ rights, especially through his work on the Veterans’ Care Improvement Act, increases his popularity among veterans and with citizens who value the armed forces.

A fourth significant advantage is his political prudence—essentially a moderate and pragmatic approach. This contrasts sharply with Trump and his running mate, J. D. Vance, who are prone to conflicts, disputes, insults, and other elements of dirty political competition. Walz’s inclination toward compromise and pragmatic problem-solving could help him attract moderate voters, including those who are not strictly aligned with party ideologies. His moderate stance on various issues, such as healthcare and education, could allow him to attract a wide spectrum of voters. A fifth and final major advantage is his composure during crises. During the coronavirus pandemic and the social unrest led by the Black Lives Matter movement after George Floyd’s death, Walz demonstrated skilled leadership. Although his decisions were controversial, his ability to make tough choices in critical situations can be seen as a strength.

Disadvantages

Many of the aforementioned advantages could also be viewed as weaknesses. Walz’s decisions as governor of Minnesota following the pandemic and the BLM protests in 2020 can be interpreted negatively. Critics have reproached him for closing businesses during the pandemic, which resulted in several controversies. He faced significant backlash over restrictive measures, which economic experts say caused significant harm to Minnesota’s economy while also curtailing personal freedoms. While the measures were in line with public health guidelines that Walz did not enact himself but rather medical experts, their negative economic effects could be a millstone around his neck. The economic and social fallout from the COVID-19 measures may alienate groups of voters, such as business owners and advocates for personal freedoms.

Furthermore, although he supported police reforms after the killing of George Floyd by officer Derek Chauvin, some observers felt he did not do enough to reduce violence during the protests, while others accused him of using excessive force by activating the National Guard. Such perceptions could lead to negative reactions from certain voters, particularly in districts directly affected by these events. Another significant issue for Walz is his limited recognition on the national stage in the U.S., and certainly on the international stage. While Walz is well-known in Minnesota and parts of the Midwest, his national profile is relatively low compared to other Democratic politicians like California Governor Gavin Newsom, Senator Elizabeth Warren, or New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. This could pose a challenge in the campaign, as he will need to work harder to become more recognizable and gain the trust of voters nationwide. Without a strong national image, he could struggle to garner sufficient support for the Harris-Walz ticket.

A third problem is his lack of experience in U.S. national politics. So far, his focus has primarily been on local issues. It will be important for him to demonstrate an understanding of the concerns of Americans outside the Midwest, especially in large cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, etc. Although major cities are predominantly Democratic strongholds, any slip-ups or neglect of urban issues could turn voters away. His approach to foreign policy will be equally critical. Interestingly, in 2016, Walz voted against U.N. Security Council Resolution 2334, which condemned Israeli settlements in the West Bank—a resolution supported by the outgoing Obama administration. This highlights his alignment with the Israeli lobby, which is also evident during the current campaign.

Lastly, while Walz is a moderate inclined to compromise (which should typically be a significant advantage for any serious politician), it remains unclear whether this quality is a strength or a weakness in a deeply divided America in 2024. In late July, he called Trump and Vance “weird,” which is far less intense than the frequent harsh labels and insults used lately. His moderate approach could be perceived as weak or traitorous by progressive and liberal voters, while conservative voters might be skeptical of his political views and connections with the Democratic Party. Walz’s pragmatic demeanor could be a disadvantage in a polarized environment where clear and firm positions are demanded.

Conclusion

As a vice-presidential candidate, Tim Walz will need to balance his strengths and weaknesses to secure victory for Kamala Harris and himself in the election. His ability to understand the needs of different voter groups will be key to either electoral success or failure. The question of all questions is: can Walz leverage his strengths, overcome his weaknesses, and deliver a win for the Democrats? Ultimately, the outcome will depend on the ability of Trump and Vance on one side, and Harris and Walz on the other, to win the trust and support of voters in key swing states, which will shape the future of American politics and society for years to come.