Wisconsin Democrats praise selection of Tim Walz as Kamala Harris' running mate
WASHINGTON – Wisconsin's top Democrats on Tuesday largely praised Vice President Kamala Harris' selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate, citing his Midwest roots and ability to appeal to middle America.
"All roads to the White House lead through the Midwest," said U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, "and who better to help guide us there than the governor of Minnesota himself."
Harris picked Walz, 60, after considering a number of perhaps more high-profile candidates from states critical to the path to reelection. Democrats in Wisconsin in recent days had signaled they would be fine with any of the top contenders, which included Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly.
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But after Harris' announcement they pointed to Walz's working-class background as a former high school teacher, his military service and his six terms in Congress as experience that could appeal to voters in a key swing state like Wisconsin.
Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, whose district bordered much of Minnesota, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently that he worked with Walz during their time in the House and said their two congressional districts were demographically and economically similar.
"I think he's a strong pick," Kind said, describing Walz as pragmatic and someone with common sense and Midwestern values. "I think he will be very attractive in middle America, in those swing states. I think his record of accomplishment as governor of Minnesota is outstanding."
Kind added: "He's smart, he's witty, he's fun to be around. He'll be very appealing to a lot of voters."
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The announcement comes a day before Harris and Walz are expected to campaign together in Eau Claire as part of a tour this week of battleground states across the country. The visit lands the pair in Wisconsin's 3rd Congressional District — the state's main swing district that flipped red in 2022 following Kind's retirement. Former President Donald Trump won the district in 2016, when he won Wisconsin, and in 2020, when he lost the state to President Joe Biden.
Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance will campaign in Eau Claire the same day Harris and Walz visit.
Republicans on Tuesday immediately sought to cast Walz's selection as pushing the Democratic Party farther to the left. Brian Schimming, the chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, slammed Walz for his state's handling of the protests following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 and painted him as weak on the southern border.
"The Democratic Party and Kamala Harris have cast aside common sense to placate their extremist wing," Schimming said. "Americans are tired of failure, but that is all Democrats have left to offer."
Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, whose 7th Congressional District also shares a border with Minnesota, also referenced Walz's handling of the 2020 protests against police brutality.
"This is the SOCIALIST dream," Tiffany wrote on X.
Still, just as Wisconsin Republicans initially pointed to Trump's selection of Vance, an Ohio senator, as someone who could help the GOP in the Midwest, those in Wisconsin speculated Walz could provide a boost to Democrats.
Barry Burden, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said Walz was "mostly likely to have a positive electoral impact in Wisconsin" out of the final handful of candidates Harris had considered. He said Walz "conveys more of a working-class background" that could appeal to rural voters around the Midwest.
"He is best positioned to relate to Wisconsin voters and will be a familiar figure to people who live in northwest Wisconsin and are within the Twin Cities media market," said Burden, who is also director of UW's Elections Research Center.
That analysis shined clear in Democrats' reactions to Walz.
Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler on Tuesday morning called Walz "a proven Midwestern leader" and said: "Wisconsinites know Governor Walz."
"He’s our neighbor, and embodies the spirit of neighborliness," Wikler said in a statement. "In Western Wisconsin, voters see him every day on local television beamed in from the Twin Cities."
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin in a statement called Walz “a veteran, a teacher, and a true public servant.” She noted his Midwest roots.“The path to the presidency and control of the U.S. Senate runs directly through the Midwest and I’m glad to see our party focusing on our region,” Baldwin said.
And U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, a Milwaukee Democrat called Walz her "dear congressional colleague" and said Democrats were fortunate to have had a number of vice presidential candidates with governing experience.
"Governor Walz is a smart choice and a great human being," Moore said.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers highlighted Walz's proximity to Wisconsin and issued a call to Democrats: “Let’s go win the darn thing.”
"As former educators, Tim and I believe i doing what's best for kids, leading with kindness, empathy, and respect, and working hard to get things done for the people we serve," Evers said in a statement. "Those are exactly the kind of Midwestern values and qualities that will make Tim a great Vice President."
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Democrats praise pick of Tim Walz as Harris running mate
