Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has claimed that Vice President Kamala Harris selected him as her running mate in order to connect with white, rural male voters. Speaking at the Harvard Kennedy School, Mr Walz said he was intended to act as a “permission structure” for those voters, making them feel at ease with supporting the Democratic ticket. “I was on the ticket, quite honestly, because I could code talk to white guys watching football, fixing their truck, doing that, then I could put them at ease,” he explained, adding that they ultimately did not secure enough of those votes outside Minnesota.
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Mr Walz, who previously garnered attention by branding Donald Trump and JD Vance “weird”, was presented by Democrats as a plain-speaking Midwesterner who could appeal to voters where Ms Harris was perceived to struggle. His background in teaching high school football earned him the nickname “Coach Walz”, while his enthusiasm for hunting was also emphasised. However, he was ridiculed after a video emerged showing him awkwardly handling a shotgun, and he drew criticism from Republicans over his policy of providing menstrual products in boys’ toilets in Minnesota schools.
The Harris–Walz campaign ultimately secured just 38 per cent of the white male vote, according to an NBC News exit poll, compared with roughly 60 per cent for Donald Trump. When asked on Monday what he would have done differently during the election, Mr Walz bluntly replied, “We would have won.” Some political observers believe his recent national town hall tour may signal ambitions for a future presidential run. At the Kennedy School event, however, Mr Walz dismissed such speculation, stating that Democrats should prioritise organisational groundwork ahead of the next election.
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In March, while appearing on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s podcast, Mr Walz claimed that attacks from Trump’s allies were motivated by fear of his masculinity. “I think I scare them a little bit, which is why they spend so much time on me,” he said. When Mr Newsom laughed, Mr Walz insisted he was serious, saying, “They know I can fix a truck. They know I’m not bluffing on this.” He also lashed out at online detractors, suggesting he could “kick most of their arses”, and admitted he was “baffled” by the criticism directed his way.
