Tim Walz Launches Small Town PAC Amidst Political Turmoil
Tim Walz, who previously ran for vice president, made an attempt this week to take a jab at Vice President J.D. Vance but fell short. On Monday, he introduced a new political super PAC named the Small Town PAC, aimed at enhancing Democratic efforts in rural areas across the nation.
Walz, the governor of Minnesota, stated, “If Democrats want to win in more places, we have to start working in more places.” He expressed his criticism of Republicans like Vance, who he believes portray their small-town neighbors in a negative light. “I don’t think they’re narrow-minded,” he said in an interview with Politico. “I think Republicans like J.D. Vance are actually the issue small towns are facing.”
Vance transitioned into politics following the success of his memoir, Hillbilly Elegy, which highlights the challenges faced by impoverished white communities in places like Kentucky and Ohio, often paying homage to his mother and grandmother in his narratives. He was notably featured during his acceptance speech at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
Walz, however, has been under scrutiny lately, having stepped back from his re-election campaign for governor due to allegations of involvement in obscuring a significant fraud involving certain segments of Minnesota’s Somali community. He has denied these charges.
On social media, Walz noted that the PAC intends to engage with communities where many have lost hope, stating, “We show up in small towns, organize in places where too many have given up, and build strength with the people who call these places home.”
He also mentioned plans to identify local representatives — “teachers, nurses, workers, veterans, and young people” — who can more authentically represent their communities as opposed to those from, say, Silicon Valley.
In January, Walz faced backlash for his comment that Minnesota was “at war” with the federal government after more federal troops were dispatched to manage immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump. He emphasized that the warning issued was meant for public awareness, saying, “I issued a warning order to prepare the Minnesota National Guard.”
The federal involvement came to an end after two anti-ICE protests led to fatalities, prompting local leaders to broker a deal with the Trump administration for troop withdrawal.
