Democratic Governor Tim Walz Announces Nationwide Tour of Town Halls in Republican-held Congressional Districts
Guv'nor Tim Walz sets off on a new adventure - a tour of House districts, home to GOP reps who reckon in-person town halls are just too hot to handle these days, since some of their colleagues have faced some seriously rowdy receptions across the nation.
Starting off on Friday in Iowa, Walz will kick things off in Rep. Zach Nunn's district, then jet off to Nebraska, visiting Rep. Don Bacon's territory - both of whom managed to secure another term in office last year, with their seats hanging by a thread. Walz's team's already planning a whirlwind trip through Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ohio in the coming weeks, with more stops on the horizon.
Due to his stint on the Democratic ticket last year, Walz can't help but feel like he's got a civic duty to step up.
"There was just this primal roar of people catching on to what's been going down with the Trump administration's authoritarian antics, and realizing their reps weren't offering a proper response," he spilled to CNN on Wednesday. "It's about Republican reps recognizing how unpopular all this is, and they're choosing to stay mum on town halls instead. Folks need to be heard, and they need to be honest, and the Democratic leadership needs to listen."
Walz's plans were initially sparked by a post last week on X, taking a swipe at House Republican leaders who advised their colleagues to skip town halls. Republicans have cried foul, claiming these town halls are stuffed with paid protesters - however, those making such accusations haven't provided any proof or justification as to why Democratic reps' town halls have also been equally crowded.
Walz said he couldn't believe the feedback he received from that tweet, and his staff has been knee-deep in hundreds of invitations from local party leaders and candidates begging him to show up. He said he felt reassured after the tumultuous loss to Donald Trump and JD Vance.
"I thought the people would become disheartened after the last election and just call it quits, but they're far from it," Walz shared.
Besides independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who's swung through the Midwest twice in the past month, no other major Democratic leaders have been jumping on board with similar public events. Walz attributes that, in part, to the party still "finding its sea legs." But the situation sure does frustrate him.
"I'm gonna let 'em know it doesn't have to be like this," he said, referencing the Trump administration's attempts to dismantle the Department of Education as a prime example. "I'm gonna tell 'em ways they can mobilize to fight back, ways I think are the most effective. I fully expect them to drop some wisdom on me too."
As the Tea Party rose through a different set of town hall protests back in the 2010 election cycle, Walz was a congressman in a tight district fighting for a third term. He won, but it was no walk in the park, he shares, and he cautions Republicans to ignore this trend at their own peril.
"I'm just a catalyst to give these folks a megaphone to amplify their voices," he stated. "That's what people are looking for. I understand my newfound responsibility. I've got a bigger platform now, so I should bring it to them, and I'll basically be handing control of that megaphone over to them."
But he warned, "When Democrats are just being a sounding board for Trump, we're not breaking into that space we need to, to gain their trust, to show them what we stand for."
After going noticeably quiet in the months after the campaign - after a relatively low-key role as running mate, a role that sources say was deliberately orchestrated by the Harris campaign brass - Walz has been showing his face more in recent weeks.
Many pundits predict Walz will make a third run for governor next year, and he brushed off speculation that this effort is a stepping stone towards a future national run.
"I'll do whatever I can to secure a win in '28," he told CNN. "I don't need to be on that ticket. That's not my goal here. My goal is still in a position where I have a voice and I have some power to make a difference, and if 20 people show up, that's good enough for me. It's not about drawing crowds; I'll hop on a plane and go where it wouldn't matter, but it matters to those people. And that's what I'm gonna do."
- Governor Tim Walz, recognizing his civic duty after his stint on the Democratic ticket last year, will embark on a tour of House districts, including Rep. Don Bacon's territory in Nebraska, to engage with the public and express his concerns about the Republican representatives' choice to avoid in-person town halls.
- Walz's plans to visit numerous Midwest districts in the coming weeks are not only intended to mobilize the Democrats but also to listen to the feedback from local party leaders and candidates, hoping to learn about effective ways to fight back, especially related to the attempts to dismantle the Department of Education.
- Walz, despite speculation suggesting that his current efforts could be a stepping stone towards a future national run, has stated his focus is on securing a win in the 2028 gubernatorial race and being in a position where he can have a voice and make a difference, regardless of the size of the crowd.
