Topline
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz—who was announced as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate Tuesday morning—made an early name for himself as a moderate Democrat in Congress, before helping to pass a litany of policies backed by progressives as governor of Minnesota.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz—who was announced as Kamala Harris’ running mate Tuesday—rose the ranks as … [+]
Key Facts
Walz spent 12 years in Congress before his governorship, and was known throughout his career in Congress as a fairly moderate Democrat representing a largely rural district.
Walz became governor of Minnesota in 2019, and Democrats gained full control of the state legislature in 2022—as Walz was elected to a second term—which made it easier to pass legislation without compromises with Republicans, allowing Democrats to pass laws on tax credits, family leave and other progressive platform items.
The governor—who previously worked as a high school social studies and geography teacher in Nebraska and Minnesota—is expected to help Harris gain ground among midwestern voters.
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Did Walz Change Taxes In Minnesota?
As governor, Walz and the state’s Democratic legislature have passed a series of progressive tax policies. In his second term, Walz signed a package that included a sharp increase in tax credits for low-income families, giving nearly 300,000 households a credit of up to $1,750 per child—the highest child tax credit in the country at the time, the Star Tribune reported. The package also expanded tax credits for education expenses and childcare, and reduced Social Security users’ taxes. Minnesota paid for the tax changes by implementing a new global tax on multinational companies, Politico reported. After the House released an early version of the tax package, the Republican Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson told the Minnesota Reformer the plan would “empty every Minnesotan’s pocketbook to support their out-of-control spending agenda” and lead to higher taxes. A January report from the liberal think tank the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy found Minnesota’s tax system was the most progressive among all states in terms of the tax burden of lower-income residents compared to high-earners, the Minnesota Reformer reported.
What Does Walz Think About Paid Family Leave?
Last year Walz signed a program into law that allows for up to 12 weeks off with partial pay annually to care for a newborn or a sick family member, and the same for a person to recover from their own serious illness—a policy that many Democrats favor pursuing nationally. The program is set to go into effect in 2026, and will be funded by a payroll tax and operate like unemployment insurance, CBS News reported. Walz said signing paid family and medical leave into law ensured “Minnesotans no longer have to make the choice between a paycheck and taking time off to care for a new baby or a sick family member.” Walz got some pushback on the program. The state director of the National Federation of Independent Business in Minnesota told CBS News the proposal was “deeply flawed” because it would “cost much more than expected and make it harder for small businesses to keep their doors open.”
Why Is Walz Known For Free School Lunch?
Under Walz, Minnesota became the fourth state post-pandemic to adopt a free school lunch policy after he prioritized the issue, according to Chalkbeat. He signed a law providing free breakfast and lunch to all Minnesota students beginning in the 2023-24 school year. Months into the program, Walz defended it amid high costs saying it was “an investment I will defend all day” and one he would like to see every student in the state use.
Where Does Walz Stand On Gun Control?
As a House member in a rural Minnesota district, Walz had the support of the National Rifle Association, earning the group’s endorsement and an “A” rating. When he was in Congress, Walz voted to pass a bill saying Washington, D.C., didn’t have the authority “to enact laws or regulations that ‘discourage or eliminate’ private ownership or use of firearms,” and after D.C. banned open and concealed carry permits Walz voted to not let the D.C. government use its funds to enforce gun laws, MinnPost reported. Walz also sponsored a bill that made it easier for “mentally incompetent” veterans to own guns. But after the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Walz changed his tune. He published an op-ed in the Star Tribune saying the NRA was “the biggest single obstacle to passing the most basic measures to prevent gun violence in America,” and he said he donated the money he received from the NRA to a charity helping families of troops who are hurt while serving. He credited, in part, his daughter Hope—who asked him to do all he could to fight gun violence after the Parkland shooting—for his change in position. Since then, Walz has passed a number of gun control laws in Minnesota, including universal background checks and “red flag” rules. In a recent tweet, he said: “I had an A rating from the NRA. Now I get straight F’s. And I sleep just fine.”
What Was Walz’s Response To 2020 George Floyd Protests And Riots?
Walz was leading Minnesota in 2020 when George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis, and the governor faced criticism for his handling of the situation. After riots and arson began, Minneapolis’ mayor asked Walz to send the National Guard in, but Walz did not respond until the next day, The New York Times reported. Some local Republicans argued the delay made it harder for law enforcement to get the situation under control. Walz later criticized the city’s response and utilization of the National Guard, saying parts of it were an “abject failure” and his staff later said local leadership didn’t provide enough information for the National Guard to know what to assist with, the Star Tribune reported. Later that year, Walz instituted a slate of police reforms banning chokeholds, creating a team of mental health services for officers, mandating certain trainings and requiring officers to intervene if their colleagues use excessive force. He also said the officers involved in Floyd’s death should face “swift” justice.
Did Walz Support Defunding The Police?
Republicans accused Walz of supporting defunding the police, but Walz never actually called for that. He outright opposed a 2021 ballot proposal to replace Minneapolis’ police department with a new “public safety” department without any minimum staffing measures, saying the proposal confused voters and police reforms should be done by elected officials, not by referendum, according to a Minneapolis Fox station.
What Does Walz Think About Ivf?
Walz opened up about his family’s experience with in vitro fertilization earlier this year after the Alabama Supreme Court issued a controversial ruling that would allow parents to sue for wrongful death if embryos were discarded or damaged, both of which can happen through the IVF process. The Minnesota governor told the Star Tribune he and his wife Gwen had gone through fertility treatments for seven years before they had two children—Hope, 23, who was conceived through IVF and Gus, 17.
What Does Walz Think About Abortion?
Almost immediately after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Walz signed an executive order saying the state would offer legal protection to people from other states who came to Minnesota for reproductive health services. “We are committed to protecting access to reproductive health care services,” Walz wrote in the order. The following year, Walz signed the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act into law, which secured the right to abortion in Minnesota—and made the state the first to enact new protections after Roe v. Wade was overturned in June 2022. The law codified the right to all reproductive care, including contraception, family planning, preconception care and more.
Where Does Walz Stand On Legal Marijuana?
Minnesota became the 23rd state to legalize recreational marijuana under Walz, who had long been a supporter of legalizing the drug. The legislation legalizing it also automatically expunged the records of Minnesotans who were convicted of misdemeanor or petty misdemeanor possession, an aspect of the law that was praised by other Democrats in the state, the Associated Press reported.
Key Background
Harris selected Walz out of a number of Democratic governors and other politicians—including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. Prior to being named Harris’ running mate, Walz had support from a number of Democrats who applauded his “Midwest grit” and said he was more aggressive than some other candidates Harris was reportedly considering. Walz could help Harris across the Midwest, and in Minnesota.
Further Reading
Israel and Hamas. Previously, she has covered a range of topics from Donald Trump’s legal battles to Taylor Swift’s path to becoming a billionaire. She joined Forbes in April 2022 and is based in Colorado. Prior to joining Forbes, Bohannon covered local news and spent time at the Fort Collins Coloradoan and the Arizona Republic. She graduated with a degree in journalism from Creighton University and has an MA in investigative journalism from Arizona State. Follow Bohannon for continued coverage of pop culture, politics and updates on the war in Gaza.
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