MINNEAPOLIS – Former President Donald Trump projected win from the president have many in Minnesota wondering what the next step will be the Democratic vice presidential candidate Team Walz.
Vice President Kamala Harris gave a concession speech Wednesday afternoon from Howard University in Washington, DC Although Walz did not speak at the event, he was asked what was next as he left the rally. The answer: “Minnesota.”
Walz, 60, returned to his home state Wednesday afternoon to continue as governor of Minnesota. Peggy Flanagan, who would have run for governor if Walz’s ticket wins, will remain as lieutenant governor.
Walz has two years left in his post. For the remainder of the term, he may have a more difficult time enacting policies in comparison achievement achieved in the 2023 landmark session.
Until now, control for the Minnesota House is up in the air after the Republicans can flip three seats, with several other races likely heading for a recount – meaning that the Democratic “trifecta” power in the country is in doubt.
Larry Jacobs, a professor of politics at the University of Minnesota, took it a step further.
“The DFL’s progressive bus wheels just stopped,” he said. “The DFL will not be able to move big budgets and big programmatic ideas like they did in 2023. Republicans will also have a tie in the House, so they can prevent it, or they will have a majority where they will vote for whatever the DFL sends that includes more taxes, more spending, more regulation.
Walz has not indicated whether he will run again for governor of Minnesota if his vice presidential bid fails.
Walz released a statement
After Trump’s win, Walz released a statement on social media.
“Thank you Vice President Kamala Harris for believing in me, and choosing me to be your running mate. Campaigning at your side has been the honor and privilege of my life. While the outcome was not what I expected, I am grateful to millions of people. Americans who joined our campaign and stand for the greatest ideals: decency, compassion, and love for your neighbor, now more than ever, you must continue to fight for these values ​​and the country we love.
What is Walz’s path as a politician at this point?
Hamline University professor and political expert David Schultz told WCCO he believes not only is Walz’s path to national politics most likely over, but his path in Minnesota politics is “just about to end.”
At the state level, Walz’s prospects for winning a third term as governor do not look promising.
“With the exception of Rudy Perpich, no governor in Minnesota since post-World War II has been successful and been elected to a third term,” Schultz said. “The chances of him deciding to run and win are complicated for him.”
On a national level, Schultz said analysts will be looking for reasons why Harris lost.
“Some will point to Walz as a choice for vice president. … He doesn’t resonate with voters in Pennsylvania or Wisconsin or Michigan. That’s the issue we have to think about here,” Schultz said.
Quite often, vice presidents end up becoming presidents – such as Walter Mondale and Hubert Humphrey – but after they have been part of the winning ticket at the national level.
Schultz also noted the percentage of the popular vote received by Walz has continued to decline since he first became governor. This also includes the 2024 presidential election.
“Harris got a smaller percentage of the vote than President Biden, won fewer districts than Biden, so I think his path to the future in Minnesota politics is difficult,” Schultz said.
Jae Hong / AP
Waltz is available final address on a national platform before the election on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” on Friday night, where it was underlined Harris The focus of the campaign is on Pennsylvania, a hotly contested war state Trump eventually wonalong with 19 electoral votes.
During a rally in La CrosseWisconsin earlier in the day, Walz told the audience that if Harris and he beat Trump, voters “will never have to see this man on TV again and listen to him.”
Walz insists the future of American democracy is at stake.
“It’s now, folks. I know there’s a lot of anxiety. The decisions in the next 24-36 hours will shape not only the next four years, but they’ll shape generations to come,” Walz said.
When he became governorWalz had several major crises. In his first term, he faced harsh criticism from Republicans amid the double dilemma of the COVID-19 pandemic and the violent uprising that led to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020.
Before becoming governor, Walz led Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District in the US House of Representatives from 2006 to 2019. Prior to his political career, the Nebraska native served in the Army National Guard for nearly a quarter century.
