Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) offered criticism to his own party while acknowledging he’s not “the best spokesperson” since he lost in the last presidential election.
Walz, who plans to run for reelection for Minnesota governor in 2026, remains the face of several Democratic campaigns, most recently appearing at an event on behalf of Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford, who won her seat last week. The governor has visited several other states, as well. He shared what he’s gleaned from his visits while on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday.
“I think what we allowed ourselves to do is we got timid. And then when we got power, we didn‘t pass things that improved people‘s lives,” Walz said. “I’m out here doing what I can do. I don‘t know if I‘m the best spokesperson to do it after just losing an election, but what I know is the public — and you saw it across the country this weekend — they‘re rising up and asking their leadership to do something.”
According to the governor, his party always supported “a bipartisan policy that strengthens immigration control,” protecting Social Security and Medicare, and policies surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion which he defined as “rule of law, that‘s fair, that everybody gets an opportunity.” However, Walz couldn’t deny that his party has a 29% approval rating.
“I‘m very concerned with the folks who stayed home. And these are folks that I‘ll say once again, Donald Trump has identified their angst,” Walz said of the 2024 election. “Democrats do well in special elections and off-year elections. But the electorate that comes in presidential election years is different. When I was young, it was easy to know what a Democrat was: They stood with the working class and labor. Republicans were country club and for the rich.”
Walz recently came under fire for his comments celebrating Tesla’s declining stock, saying it “gives me a little boost” to see it continue to tumble. Meanwhile, the Minnesota State Board of Investments released a report showing the state held 1.6 million shares of Tesla stock in its retirement fund as of June 2024. Minnesota also held over 211,000 shares of Tesla in its non-retirement fund.
WALZ CELEBRATES TESLA’S STOCK DROPPING: ‘GIVES ME A LITTLE BOOST’
The governor defended former President Joe Biden, claiming he “did a hell of a job,” but dismissed a question from host Jake Tapper about his running for reelection. Walz put the onus on Biden, saying, “He made that decision.”
Next month, Tapper is releasing his seventh book Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. Co-author and Axios Reporter Alex Thompson combined with Tapper to interview “200 White House insiders” for the book.