Governor Walz Takes the National Stage

by Sam Richie, AASP-MN Lobbyist

Even with a Presidential election looming this November, the 2024 general election in Minnesota felt a bit muted earlier this summer.

Minnesota House members are all on the ballot this fall, and control of that chamber is certainly important, but members of the Minnesota Senate, as well as the Governor and other Constitutional Officers, are not up for reelection. That meant we would be dealing with the same cast of characters in the Governor’s office and in the Senate, both controlled by the DFL, when we gavel back in for a new legislative session in January 2025.

But that all changed after a massive political shock at the national level. As you’re surely aware, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been selected by Vice President Kamala Harris to join her run for the White House as her Vice President. After a whirlwind couple of weeks following President Biden’s announcement that he would not seek reelection this fall, Governor Walz was able to force his way into the national conversation with numerous appearances on cable news and political podcasts. Walz was able to highlight his record of accomplishments during his time as Governor, as well as go on the offensive with snappy attacks on both former President Trump and his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance.

While Governor Walz’s rise to national prominence may have appeared to some to have happened practically overnight, keen observers have noted his intentional framing of his legislative record in recent years to position himself for an opportunity like this if one should arise. After the historic 2023 legislative session in which the DFL controlled Legislature enacted a whole slew of longstanding DFL policy priorities, Governor Walz hit the road to tout Minnesota’s successes. Then, in December 2023, Governor Walz was selected to chair the Democratic Governors Association, an organization that works to elect Democratic governors across the country and funds a massive amount of TV and radio ads for competitive races. This high-profile new position helped provide additional opportunities for Walz to establish and strengthen some of his national political connections. 

Walz’s decision to join Vice President Harris in her bid for the Presidency could have dramatic impacts here in Minnesota. If Harris and Walz are successful in November, which is far from a given with a very tight race projected by the current polling, Minnesota would see a few major changes to state Government. First, current Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan would be elevated to Governor to finish out the final two years of Walz’s term. She would become the first Native American woman to hold the office of Governor in the history of the United States. Lieutenant Governor Flanagan’s ascension to the Governor’s office would then trigger another elected official’s move – current State Senate President Bobby Joe Champion would become Lieutenant Governor for the remainder of the term. 

This chain of events would then necessitate a special election to fill Senator Champion’s downtown Minneapolis Senate District for the upcoming term. And while that seat is a safe DFL district, with the Senate currently split 34-33 any special election would essentially be for control of the senate, which would undoubtedly draw plenty of attention and money. Special elections offer a different dynamic than general elections, as there is a much lower voter turnout and special interest group spending can have more of an impact when there are less voters to reach and influence, so even a race for a normally safe DFL seat would certainly be a major political event in Minnesota. 

With all of these potential leadership changes and the political impact they could offer, the general election in Minnesota went from a fairly straightforward and local affair to a high-profile national event that could have lasting impacts in Minnesota and the country. 

Want more? Check out the September 2024 issue of AASP-MN News!