By The New York Times (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-01 20:18:48 | Updated at 2024-10-08 04:34:13
6 days ago
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Mr. Walz was willing to move the state swiftly to the left as soon as Democrats had an opening. He supported all but one bill that fellow Democrats approved, issuing a single veto last year.
- Oct. 1, 2024, 1:08 p.m. ET
After Democrats won full control of Minnesota’s statehouse two years ago, they quickly pressed for change, enshrining a right to abortion under state law, legalizing recreational marijuana, requiring that employers provide paid medical and family leave, and funding free meals for most school students.
Tim Walz, the governor, signed it all, along with practically everything else his fellow Democrats passed in 2023. He issued only one veto that year.
As Mr. Walz, now a vice-presidential candidate, prepares to debate Senator JD Vance on Tuesday, that single year in St. Paul could shed light on how Mr. Walz may govern, and the kinds of policies he might champion in the White House.
Mr. Walz’s supporters view 2023 as a time that revealed him to be a decisive leader who put an end to gridlock and pursued bold policies to help working class Minnesotans. His critics also point to the period as the clearest look at Mr. Walz’s liberal views. On his watch, they argue, Minnesota vastly expanded state programs in a manner that might have been politically popular in the short term, but could prove to be fiscally untenable.
Here’s a look at Mr. Walz’s most notable year as governor, and how he got there.
Running as a Unifier
After representing a largely rural district in Congress for 12 years, earning a reputation as a moderate who found common ground with Republicans on issues related to veterans and agriculture, Mr. Walz ran for governor in 2018.
Drawing attention to his experience as a public school geography teacher and football coach, Mr. Walz presented himself as a unifying leader in a polarizing time. His campaign motto was “One Minnesota.” His running mate, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, made history as the highest-ranking Native American elected official in the state. They won by more than 11 percentage points.
