Republicans were ecstatic that Harris picked Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (Democrat) as her running mate, and they were quick to launch attacks on Walz, starting with his response four years ago to the protests following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) Post to social platform X She accused Walz of “allowing rioters to burn down Minneapolis in 2020.” House Republican Speaker Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) said in a statement that Walz “supported the BLM mob that burned down Minneapolis.” And Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), former President Trump’s running mate, mentioned the protests in a campaign speech on Tuesday.
“Do you think the black business leaders in Minneapolis, the working class business leaders, are grateful that Governor Tim Walz let rioters burn down their stores?” Vance said in Philadelphia.
The focus on the 2020 protests against police brutality — which began in Minneapolis after a police officer killed Floyd with his knee on his neck and spread across the country — heralds the Republican campaign against Walz, and against Democratic candidates overall.
Republicans have been struggling since Biden withdrew and Harris became the Democratic front-runner. Harris has given the party a big boost in the form of donations and enthusiasm. Some Republicans, however, have expressed dissatisfaction with Vance’s performance on the campaign trail and disappointment that the Trump campaign was not prepared for her rise.
The selection of Walz, a former congressman and two-term governor who has supported many policies favored by progressives, gave Republicans a new target that ticked many of the party’s boxes of attack.
Republicans have called Harris a socialist and argued that she and her party are the most liberal presidential candidate in U.S. history.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, said in an interview with The Hill on Tuesday that Harris’ choice of Walz “makes it easier for us.”
“He’s a far-left candidate, an option, and frankly I thought she might try to pick a moderate, but obviously she’s proven once again who she is,” Johnson said.
A Republican activist told The Hill that Walz “may come across as a nice Midwestern guy, but he’s a socialist and he’s not like the rest of America. He’s going to be a problem for them.”
The agents alleged that Waltz was issuing driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants and The enactment of the so-called Red Flag LawIt would allow authorities to confiscate guns from people deemed a danger to themselves or others.
Another Republican activist said Walz’s policy positions make him a “gold mine for studying Republican opposition.”
“And that’s before we even get to the fact that Minneapolis burned down during his term,” the first operative added, referring to the 2020 protests.
Sen. LaFonza Butler (D-Calif.), one of Harris’ closest allies and former aides, disputed the assessment that Walz was moving candidates left and said his actions as governor were “balanced.”
But leading Republicans were quick to seize on Walz’s response to the protests, arguing that he moved too slowly.
The pro-Trump MAGA Inc. political action committee lashed out at reporters, pointing to a news article in which Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (D) had denounced Walz. Not acting quickly enough There have been objections to a report by Republican members of the Minnesota Senate that said the governor’s request to send in National Guard reinforcements and his failure to recognize the seriousness of the riots led to a “delayed response and escalation of violence.”
For Republicans, Walz’s connection to the Minneapolis protests dovetails with their focus on crime in major U.S. cities and a favorite attack point against Harris, whose 2020 social media posts raised money to pay bail for arrested Minneapolis protesters.
Stefanik criticized Walz, saying Harris “raised money to get violent criminals out of prison,” while Scalise accused Walz of being soft on “the same mob that Kamala Harris raised bail for.”
“They are a dangerous duo whose crimes have destroyed our communities,” Scalise said.
The Harris campaign and Governor Walz’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but The New York Times reported: Waltz’s spokesperson He said 2020 has been a “tragic time for our state and our nation” and that “Governor Walz has taken action and deployed the National Guard to help keep our cities safe.”
And despite his discontent over the Minneapolis riots, Walz was re-elected governor in 2022.
Harris’ choice of Walz was also good news for Republicans who had been resigned to her choice of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D), with many expecting the election to hinge on Shapiro’s ability to secure the Keystone State’s crucial 19 electoral votes.
“Why not choose as your running mate the governor of one of the most important states, who can run around the state unlimited times, performing ribbon cuttings, openings and of course official government business?” the Republican activist said.
“If you want to win the election, pick Shapiro,” the operative continued, “and if you’re worried the left still doesn’t trust you, pick Tim Walz.”
Butler argued that the vice president’s decision likely comes down to “what kind of person she wants to spend that much time with” and who would be an effective communicator during the campaign and ultimately in the presidency.
Walz’s 12-year career as a congressman before becoming governor makes him an anomaly among Harris, Trump and Vance, and also provides an opportunity to find further dirt on him.
“We’re certainly going to be combing through Mr. Walz’s very long voting record in the House and pulling out anything that’s available to us,” a second Republican said.
Michael Schnell contributed.
