GOP breathes sigh of relief over Tim Walz pick as Harris VP nominee
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Then-Rep. Tim Walz and Rep. Tom Emmer joke with each other in 2018. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call
Many Republicans expressed surprise and relief at the choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate, readying renewed "radical" liberal attacks.
Why it matters: Republicans saw Walz as the easier target for them as they try to regain momentum after a rough few weeks for the GOP (and their own VP candidate.)
- Republicans plan to paint Walz as far left, highlighting that he was backed for VP by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and reminding people of Walz's handling of the 2020 protests after the police killing of George Floyd.
- Republicans have already been painting Harris as too progressive and plan to try to accuse her of being "anti-Israel" for overlooking Jewish Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, whose pro-Israel stances have faced criticism from the left.
The other side: Walz has not always been known as a progressive darling, and many in Minnesota view him as the VP choice least likely to divide the Democratic Party — and most likely to excite a wider range of voters, as Axios Twin Cities reported.
- Walz has backing from many influential Democratic voices, including the progressive wing of the party, which has at times turned on President Biden, especially over his handling of the war in Gaza.
- House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) praised Harris' selection of Walz as her running mate, calling him a "heartland of America Democrat."
- Republicans have been suffering through a rough bout of news surrounding Trump's pick of VP in JD Vance, with some Republicans even questioning whether he was the right choice.
What they're saying: Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) called the Walz pick "amazing" and "a great pick for us ... you can't script this any better."
- "They've taken a knee to these radical extremists that are antisemites and anti-Israel," Emmer said, calling Walz a "grab bag of nothing."
- "Weak choice. Really surprising," Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), who is running for Senate, told Axios. "Lot there for Republicans to seize on to show the radical differences."
- "Harris' ideological comfort zone remains at the very far left fringes of her party; by snubbing Pro-Israel Shapiro it's the clearest sign yet that 2024 Kamala is the same as the 2019 primary Kamala," NRCC spokesperson Will Reinert told Axios in a statement.
- "It was Harris' first major decision as the nominee and she caved to the pro-Hamas contingency within the Democratic Party," NRSC spokesperson Mike Berg said. "Tim Walz reinforces Kamala Harris' biggest weaknesses: crime and immigration."
The bottom line: Multiple GOP strategists said they believed Shapiro would have been far more damaging to GOP chances in November. "He really would have hurt us in Pennsylvania," one said, particularly in the three House swing seats there.
- "First break we've caught since the Biden switcheroo," said another top strategist involved in Senate races, adding they thought Shapiro could have ended this race.
- Yet another called the pick "amazing," saying Democrats passed a strategic opportunity. A senior GOP Senate aide said it was hard to see Walz as Democrats' top pick.
