Minnesota Governor Tim Walz recently opened up about his experience as Kamala Harris’s running mate in the presidential election, reflecting on the campaign’s highs and lows and looking ahead to his work in Minnesota.
In an interview with KSTP-TV journalist Tom Hauser, Walz shared his thoughts on being part of the national race. “It was an honor to be asked to serve alongside Vice President Harris,” he said. “I got to see so much of America during the campaign.”
Despite the excitement, the campaign ended with a loss to President-elect Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance. Walz admitted the result caught him off guard. “At the rallies and events I attended, it felt like we had momentum,” he explained. “I thought we had a positive message, and I believed the country was ready for it. But in the end, it didn’t go our way.”
When asked if his role in the campaign helped or hurt the ticket, Walz said, “That’s for history to decide. It wasn’t my decision to be on the ticket; that was the Vice President’s call. Looking back, there are always things you could have done differently, especially since we didn’t win.”
He also reflected on the moment he learned Harris had chosen him as her running mate, describing the thrill of stepping onto the stage together at Temple University in Philadelphia. “I remember standing with her before walking out in front of 15 or 20,000 people and all the national press,” he said. “She looked at me and joked, ‘Let’s not mess this up.’ It was an unforgettable experience.”
Now, Walz is refocusing his attention on Minnesota and the legislative work ahead, ready to move forward after the campaign.