GOP Cheering Harris’ Pick Of Far-Left Gov. Walz As Running Mate
Republicans are enthusiastic after Vice President Kamala Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a former U.S. congressman who shifted from moderate to far-left “progressive,” as her running mate. They believe his record could be advantageous in the upcoming November election.
Following the announcement, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., referenced self-described democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on X, saying, “Harris Feels the Bern and picks Walz. Thank you, Kamala! Governor Tim Walz is a dream for the radical Left.”
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., the highest-ranking House lawmaker from Walz’s home state, accused Walz of implementing policies that would transform Minnesota into a blue stronghold like California.
“It’s not surprising [Harris] picked Tim Walz to be her running mate – he embodies the same disastrous economic, open-borders, and soft-on-crime policies Harris has inflicted on our country the last four years,” Emmer wrote on X. “Walz is an empty suit who has worked to turn Minnesota into Harris’ home state of California, and solidifies this ticket’s full embrace of a radical, America-last agenda.”
“They’ve taken a knee to these radical extremists that are antisemites and anti-Israel,” Emmer added, calling Walz a “grab bag of nothing.”
Previewing the GOP’s strategy for the coming months, several Republicans highlighted Walz’s handling of the Black Lives Matter riots in Minnesota during the summer of 2020. They also pointed out that Harris supported the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a bail fund for rioters, during her 2020 presidential campaign, as noted by Fox News.
“The Democrat Party makes history as they anoint Harris-Walz to the ballot this November representing the most radical Far Left wing ticket in history,” said House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y. “Walz was a failed Member of Congress, is a failed Governor who supported Defund the Police BLM that torched cities to the ground. All while Kamala fundraised to bail out violent criminals from prison.”
Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., from the neighboring state of Wisconsin, stated, “While Minnesota burned, Tim Walz did nothing and watched. While Minnesota burned, Kamala Harris helped violent rioters get out of jail. This is the SOCIALIST dream.”
Walz was criticized for delaying the activation of his state’s National Guard to address the rioting and looting, which included the burning of a Minneapolis police precinct.
“Tim Walz is a perfect choice for Kamala Harris. He let BLM rioters, arsonists, and looters rampage through his state and she encouraged donations to the bail fund for the few who were arrested,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., remarked.
“Weak choice. Really surprising,” Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), who is running for Senate, told Axios. “Lot there for Republicans to seize on to show the radical differences.”
“Harris’ ideological comfort zone remains at the very far left fringes of her party; by snubbing Pro-Israel [Pa. Gov. Josh] Shapiro [D] it’s the clearest sign yet that 2024 Kamala is the same as the 2019 primary Kamala,” NRCC spokesperson Will Reinert told the outlet.
“It was Harris’ first major decision as the nominee and she caved to the pro-Hamas contingency within the Democratic Party,” NRSC spokesperson Mike Berg said. “Tim Walz reinforces Kamala Harris’ biggest weaknesses: crime and immigration.”
Former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany believes former President Donald Trump is eager to target Harris’ choice due to their liberal backgrounds. McEnany said on “America’s Newsroom” that she believes the Trump camp is “cheering” about Harris’ choice.
“This is a stunning choice. I imagine there’s a lot of cheering at Mar-a-Lago at the moment. Look, Tim Walz, he’s no one to scoff at. He unseated a six-term Republican in Congress, he won a conservative district. He began as a moderate and then he had a radical transformation as soon as he got a trifecta in Minnesota. I think it is fair to call him a progressive in sheep’s clothing,” McEnany said.
“When you look at his record over the last few years, what you see are transgender surgeries for minors, carbon electrical grid by 2040, driver’s licenses for illegal immigrants. In function, his abortion policy allows abortion until birth. These are policies that are far to the left of America,” she added.