Tim Walz support lags among men in new poll

By the numbers: Just 37% of male voters in Minnesota approve of the DFL governor's job performance, a new Minnesota Poll conducted by the Star Tribune and the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication shows.

• Only 34% of men think he should seek a third term.

The intrigue: Among women, the numbers flip, with 60% giving him a thumbs up and 55% on board with another bid.

• Overall, 49% of voters approve of Walz's job performance and 45% say he should run again.

The gender gap has widened since September, when Walz had the backing of 38% of men and 57% of women, per the Star Tribune.

The fine print: The poll of 800 voters, conducted June 16-18, has a margin-of-error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

Between the lines: Walz was tapped for the 2024 Democratic presidential ticket in part due to a belief that his bio as a gun-owning veteran and former high school football coach would help the party woo "persuadable" male voters.

What they're saying: Walz spokesperson Teddy Tschann told Axios that "we've seen polls that show him up and down and everywhere in between" and said that the governor "remains focused on doing the work of governor and making Minnesota the best state to live, work, and raise a family."

What we're watching: Walz, whose political appearances across the country in recent months have fueled speculation about his own 2028 ambitions, has yet to officially announce whether he'll run for a third term.