WASHINGTON – With Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris has become a fiery advocate for public health and abortion rights.
Harris selected Walz as his running mate on Tuesday morning. The couple has less than 100 days before Election Day to rally voters to the new Democratic ticket. Walz has emerged as a front-runner in part because of his record in defending access to abortion, gender-affirming care and the country’s response to Covid-19.
Walz was early in implementing the Covid-19 shutdown and evacuation policies, drawing criticism from state Republicans and President Trump, who tweeted “LIBERATE MINNESOTA!” in April 2020. The National Republican has been charged with his initial response to Covid-19, including mask orders and vaccination requirements for government workers.
The second-term governor and 12-year veteran of the House of Representatives is used to fighting Republicans, even though he originally hails from the heavily red eastern state of Minnesota. While in Congress, Walz voted to negotiate Medicare drug prices and support medical research into cannabis and expand Veteran Affairs studies on the health effects of Agent Orange poisoning.
Health care professionals and groups were the main supporters of Walz’s campaigns during his time in Congress, according to the OpenSecrets fundraising database. Those included the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons; American Health Association; and the American Optometric Association.
In recent years, Walz has positioned Minnesota as a safe haven in the Midwest for access to abortion and gender-affirming care as neighboring states impose restrictions. Walz in 2023 signed a law enshrining abortion rights into the state constitution; that same year, he issued two separate executive orders designed to protect patients and providers in Minnesota from abortion and gender equality penalties imposed by other states.
On health care costs, the Walz administration implemented drug price transparency requirements and advocated for legislation that lowered insulin prices for emergency patients. This year, Minnesota reached an agreement with drugmaker Eli Lilly that would reduce all of its insulin prices in the state for at least five years.
Walz advocated for drug spending efforts again last month. “From lowering prescription drug costs to helping Minnesotans get affordable health insurance, we’re proud of the work we’ve done to make health care affordable affordable and affordable for Minnesotans,” he said in a statement.
How Walz made the argument
However, Walz has also been criticized for his progress which could make him more vulnerable to GOP attack than the more moderate names being floated as VP picks.
“Never abandon our progressive values,” Walz said on July 29: “One man’s socialism is another man’s friendship.”
The comments, which came during the “White Dudes for Harris” Zoom Zoom campaign, received swift reactions from conservative pundits and think tanks.
The Harris campaign said the “white dudes” rally ended up raising about $4 million.
Walz in recent weeks has mounted an outspoken campaign against the Trump-Vance ticket, calling them and other GOP leaders “weird” at various events. The statement took off on social media and among other Democrats including Harris himself.
“You may have noticed, Donald Trump has been telling wild lies about my record. And some of what he and his partner are saying, it’s amazing,” he said at an event in Atlanta last week. ago.
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