Inside the "quiet diplomacy" in Congress for Tim Walz as VP
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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz arrives at a press conference in Bloomington, Minnesota on Aug. 1, 2024. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has — in part — his former congressional colleagues to thank for Vice President Kamala Harris selecting him as her running mate.
Why it matters: A House member from 2007 to 2019, Walz' congressional relationships have manifested into what one senior House Democrat described as "quiet diplomacy" on his behalf.
- Walz's political bases of support are members from the Midwest and progressives, but others with whom he has deep personal relationships are campaigning for him as well.
- "People like me think the world of him. A truly great human being," said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) a House veteran who serves as ranking member of the House Rules Committee.
Zoom in: Walz was a finalist along with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has his own base of support on Capitol Hill.
- Several House Democrats from Pennsylvania, including swing-seat Reps. Susan Wild and Matt Cartwright, lobbied hard for Shapiro, as Axios previously reported.
What we're hearing: In addition to public pronunciations of support, many lawmakers privately reached out to the Harris campaign voicing support for Walz, according to lawmakers familiar with the outreach.
- A second senior House Democrat told Axios that "a lot of members really like Tim, myself included, and have made that known to the campaign."
- The senior lawmaker estimated that dozens of members were advocating for Walz in public and private.
- Another House Democrat told Axios that Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), a veteran progressive from Walz's home state, reached out to colleagues urging them to "to call [Harris] and talk to press" in favor of Walz.
Between the lines: Walz's record as governor has made him the favorite of the party's left flank.
- "A number of [members] on the progressive caucus side like him most," Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.), the former chair of the Progressive Caucus, told Axios, noting that some have taken to social media to tout their support.
- Another House Democrat said of Walz's support among progressives and Midwesterners: "He definitely seems to be the only one who can draw from both of those camps within our caucus."
Editor's note: This story has been updated with news that Harris selected Walz as her running mate on Tuesday.
