Nine days before Vice President Kamala Harris chose him Minnesota Governor Tim Walz received a text message from his would-be running mate.
Representative Angie Craig wrote, “I never lost with you topping the ballot.” Describing the message to CBS News, she added “LOL,” and said he had mocked her about her status at the time. top contender For work.
Craig, who represents the far southern suburbs of Minneapolis in one of the most competitive and liberal House districts in the US, took an early stand against the leader of her own party. Shortly after President Biden’s disappointing debate performance, she asked him to get out Of the race.
Following his departure, Craig endorsed Walz for vice president.
He told CBS News, “He can talk to anybody, anywhere, about any topic.” Craig said Walz is a political force in “many swing states and battleground districts.”
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The governor’s first month as his party’s vice presidential nominee is raising optimism among Democrats about his chances in two battleground House races, where Walz has roots. In Minnesota’s 2nd District, Craig faces a strong challenge for his fourth term.
And in Walz’s birthplace of Nebraska, where he campaigned in mid-August, Democrats hope his connections will help them oust the veteran Republican Don BaconBoth races are expensive and close and could have a major impact on the balance of power in the House, where Republicans hold a slim majority heading into November’s elections.
Republicans trying to win those seats have aggressively criticized Walz, questioning the quality of his record as governor and doing their best to link Democratic House candidates to the GOP’s anti-Walz messaging.
Craig says since Walz ran for governor, he has won easily in his swing district.
“He campaigns aggressively. He seems to show up anywhere,” she said. “I once went turkey hunting with him early in the season; then we were at a gay rights event the same weekend. His range is really extraordinary.”
Craig’s opponent, Republican Joe Tirab, is trying to attract a large number of voters in the 2nd District, which has a history of ticket splitting.
Former federal prosecutor, Tirab, Walz On his response to the 2020 unrest in Minneapolis in the wake of the killing of george floyd,
“Tim Walz has a record of failures,” Tirab told CBS News. “And I think people will vote on that.” He argues that Walz has not shown enough support for law enforcement, and he believes policing and public safety will be major issues in battleground states, including Minnesota.
“People here know that we need to support law enforcement to maintain public safety,” Tirab said, adding that “after the 2020 riots, it became much harder for law enforcement departments to recruit and retain talent.”
Tirab touted his record as a prosecutor during his election campaign.
“I’ve had to put a lot of drug traffickers behind bars,” he told CBS News. “I’d love to be part of an effort in Congress to stop that wave.”
However, Craig has the support of some in law enforcement and has announced endorsements from several groups, including the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association.
Walz’s visit to Omaha, Nebraska, and his own 2nd Congressional District, another battleground race, has generated buzz. The vice presidential candidate, who grew up in small-town Nebraska, campaigned in the 2nd District on Aug. 17, underscoring the importance of Nebraska’s unique system of awarding presidential electors by congressional district.
Longtime Republican Party chairman Don Bacon, who has a history of defeating both conservative Republican primary opponents and Democratic general election challengers, has accused Walz of moving politically leftward in the years since winning the governor’s office in Minnesota.
“I think his support in this district will erode. But we have to be adept at getting that message out,” Bacon told CBS News.
Bacon said he would have been more concerned about his electoral prospects if Harris had chosen first-time Pennsylvania Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro as her vice-presidential running mate.
“I think Shapiro was a much more dangerous vice president than Walz was,” Bacon said. “In the end, Walz’s roots or connections here may not be that relevant. I think they were helpful initially, but I don’t think it’s going to be helpful in the long run.”
Bacon’s Democratic opponent, state legislator Tony Vargas, hopes Walz can boost Democrats’ appeal among blue-collar voters in Nebraska. Vargas, like Walz, is a former school teacher. He told CBS News, “Seeing Governor Walz on the ticket is something we’ve been talking about at our events. We need working-class people in Congress. Governor Walz is an incredible supporter of organized labor.”
“We need examples of what working class people look like in the top echelons of the presidency, in Congress and in the executive branch,” Vargas said.
While Walz was campaigning in Nebraska last month, Vargas said he talked with him about the possibilities of flipping the House from Republican to Democratic control.
Both parties are claiming leads in the races for Minnesota and Nebraska House seats. Millions of dollars have been spent on campaigning for both seats.
Craig said the change at the top of the ticket has given a boost to Democratic candidates in several battleground states, but she still says her race will be a “hard fight” and “hard work.”
In several battleground districts, including Nebraska’s 2nd District, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has touted the money-raising success of challengers seeking to defeat incumbents.
Adding Walz’s name to the presidential race underscores the impact of President Biden’s historic retreat from the presidential race. The restructured ticket has provided Democrats with a burst of enthusiasm, more favorable polling, volunteers and donations.
Craig and Vargas told CBS News they have noticed a significant increase in enthusiasm among potential voters during door-knocking and campaign events.
Republicans say they expect the initial enthusiasm among Democrats to wane.
“President Trump and J.D. Vance have to focus on the economy, the border, crime, and they have to be clear about what Harris and Walz have done in the past,” Bacon said. “And if they do that, I think we’ll be fine.”
Contributed to this report.
