WISCONSIN — Wisconsin’s neighbors to the north now have a vice presidential candidate for the Democratic party. 

Political leaders from across the state of Wisconsin reacted to the news of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.

There is overwhelming excitement on the Democratic side to have Walz on the ticket.

What You Need To Know

  • Political leaders from across the state of Wisconsin reacted to the news of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris choosing Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate

  • There is overwhelming excitement on the Democratic side to have Walz on the ticket

  • Republicans were quick to point out Walz’s faults after the riots and looting took place following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis

  • Both political parties, however, agreed that the Midwest is key when it comes to winning this upcoming election

  • Both Harris and Vance will visit Wisconsin Wednesday. They are both making campaign pit stops in Eau Claire

Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, said she had a hand in some of the behind the scenes work to promote him for the job.

“There was a lot of activity behind the scenes to promote Tim Walz,” Moore said. “Because of his middle-class values, his progressive values, because he is relatable to the so-called blue wall, including Pennsylvania.”

Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, chimed in on Tuesday and said Walz’s leadership led people to leave Minnesota and move to his district in Wisconsin. He provided a statement saying:

“Tim Walz is the perfect representation of the Democrat Party today. Overseeing Minnesota’s finances, Walz blew a $17.5 billion surplus in four months, raised taxes by $10 billion, and increased government spending by almost 40%. As governor, he said there was nothing in rural American except for ‘rocks and cows,’ gave Minneapolis over to rioters who burned the city down and enabled the Biden/Harris open borders agenda by giving illegal aliens free driver’s licenses. As the congressman representing the Minnesotans who fled to my district seeking relief from his leadership, here are four works for the new ticker: ‘Don’t Minnesota our Wisconsin!'”

Other Republicans were quick to point out Walz’s faults after the riots and looting took place following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

GOP Senate candidate, Eric Hovde, reacted to the news of the pick with a statement, saying:

“Tim Walz's legacy of accomplishment as Governor is letting Minneapolis burn and stoking the flames of the Defund the Police movement. Kamala Harris, Tammy Baldwin and Tim Walz are on the side of defunding the police, open borders, illegal immigration, and radical transgender ideology for kids.”

Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., said she likes the pick and supports what she believes Walz can accomplish.

“There’s no question that the path to the presidency and the majority in the United States senate goes right through the Midwest, and certainly right through Wisconsin,” Baldwin said. “Having a pick who is knowledgeable about the issues that we face in the upper midwest is really strengthening,”

Both political parties, however, agreed that the Midwest is key when it comes to winning this upcoming election.

Tommy Pigott, RNC strategic communication manager, said the Midwest is important and believes former President Trump and his running mate JD Vance have what it takes to win.

“The Midwest is incredibly important,” Pigott said. “We’ve seen candidates spend their time there. President Trump has spent a lot of time there, JD Vance is spending a lot of time there,”

Both Harris and Vance will visit Wisconsin Wednesday. They are both making campaign pit stops in Eau Claire.

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