Walz: ‘Swallow a little bit of pride’ and find common ground with neighbors

In the friendly confines of a high school auditorium Friday, Tim Walz gave the last speech of his 2024 campaign for vice president and the first speech of the remainder of his second term as Minnesota governor.

Part swan song and part state of the state address, the DFL governor tried to keep his supporters inspired — despite the disappointment this week — and offered a hand to the people who voted against Vice President Kamala Harris and him.

He gave every indication that he plans to be engaged in the legislative process next year, giving no specific reference to the tied House of Representatives that ended the DFL governing trifecta. But he also said he will attempt to be more open minded with political opponents.

“It’s hard. It’s hard to lose,” he told an audience that frequently interrupted his remarks with applause. “It’s hard to understand why so many of our fellow citizens, people we have fought so long and hard for, wound up choosing the other path.

“So if you’re feeling deflated, discouraged today, I get it,” he said. “Take some time, take care of yourselves, take care of your loved ones, take care of your community. And get back in this fight when you’re ready. And know that whenever you’re ready to get back into that fight, I’ll be standing right here, ready to fight the fight with you. Because even in the face of defeat and deep disappointment, I’ve never felt more inspired. I’ve never felt more motivated. I’ve never felt more fired up about what’s possible in this country.

Walz thanked Harris for choosing him as her running mate and for waging a campaign he described as “joyous and powerful.” But he did not mention President-Elect Donald Trump by name, only as the other side or opponents.

“I know a lot of folks are worried about the next four years and what they are going to look like,” Walz told invited DFL elected officials, campaign workers, cabinet commissioners and volunteers at Eagan High School.  “I’m one of them. The agenda we heard from the other side in this campaign is very different from the one you know is right for our state and our country.

“We know what’s coming down the pike,” he said. “We know it because they told us. And we’re gonna have to be ready to defend the progress we made in Minnesota.” Walz said he will take Trump up on his rhetoric that certain issues should be left to the states.

“I’m willing to take them at their word for that. But the moment they try to bring a hateful agenda into this state, I’m ready to stand up and fight,” he said. And in a series of clauses that began with “As long as I am governor of Minnesota …” Walz said he would defend reproductive rights, welcome immigrants, fight climate change, defend children’s right to attend school without worrying about gun violence, respect democracy and stand up for working people “no matter who they voted for.”

Walz said that 1.5 million voters in Minnesota voted for Trump and vice-president-elect JD Vance “and while there might not be a place in our state for the most-extreme elements of that agenda, there should be a place in our politics for everyone to be heard.

“Sometimes we can be quick to judge people who don’t agree with us, to assume that they act out of cruelty or fear or self-interest,” Walz said “I don’t think that kind of judgment is helpful right now and I don’t think it’s right. I think we — and I’m speaking about myself — need to swallow a little bit of pride and try harder to find common ground with our neighbors who didn’t vote like we did.

“Maybe we won’t agree on many issues, hell maybe we won’t agree on any issues but maybe when the campaign signs come down, we all get a little break from the rhetoric, a little break from the TV ads and the fundraising texts — and I’m sorry about those — we’ll be able to look at each other and see not enemies, but neighbors, and be able to set down over a coffee or a Diet Mountain Dew and just talk,” Walz said.

“For my part, I’m going to try even harder as governor to do that,” he said. “Nobody has a monopoly on good intentions or good ideas.”

First Lady Gwen Walz, who spent many days on the campaign trail as well, introduced her husband with a speech that urged those in the room to keep fighting for their issues.

“I understand how we’re all feeling today,” she said. “And trust me, I’ve taken on many a battle and fallen short many a time. And losing stings. And it’s okay to feel sad, and scared, and a little surprised if I’m being honest, and give yourselves the grace to grieve what could have been.

“So now, more than ever, that important works continues because we have a responsibility to keep this haven, this special place Minnesota, safe and inclusive and strong,” said.

And she joked about her husband’s frequent campaign cheer that he and campaign workers could “sleep when we’re dead.”

“As some of you know, I’m more moderate. I think now that the election is over we can take a quick nap,” she said. “But after that, we are getting right back to work.”

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