Media

Key Takeaways

• Appeal: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is a popular figure in his midwestern state – despite being relatively unknown at the national level – who has a track record of progressive policy wins. Vice President Kamala Harris likely saw Walz’s “everyman” appeal as differentiating him from career politicians and resonating with both progressives and blue-collar voters.
• Views on China: Despite his personal connection to China as one of the first American educators to teach there during the “Reform and Opening” period, Walz has been critical of China’s unfair trade practices and Beijing’s human rights record.
• Views on Trade: Walz’s record on trade is mixed, combining openness toward a handful of countries (including Japan and South Korea) with protectionist tendencies stemming from his pro-labor sympathies. As a congressman, Walz favored expanding export markets for agricultural goods but otherwise expressed skepticism about several multilateral trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
• Potential Impact in Office: Combined with his experience as both a governor and member of Congress, Walz’s facility with bipartisan negotiation and his general appeal to both moderates and progressives could make him an effective liaison between the White House, Congress, and state governors, especially on domestic initiatives.