RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Democrats and Republicans have shared their opinions on Vice President Kamala Harris choosing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate.
“Vice President Harris has chosen someone who will work for everyone,” said Susan Swecker, Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia. She believes Walz’s background in the Midwest, his experience in the Army National Guard, Congress, and as Governor, will help him connect with voters across the country.
Swecker described Walz as a friendly and approachable person, someone you’d want to invite over for dinner and a chat.
In contrast, Rich Anderson, Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, expressed concerns about Walz. Anderson argued that by joining Harris, Walz is endorsing what he called the “dysfunction” of President Joe Biden’s administration. He criticized Walz for being weak on border issues and mentioned challenges faced by Minnesota.
Anderson also disapproved of Walz’s response to the civil unrest following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, noting that whole areas in the Twin Cities were damaged and Walz didn’t deploy the National Guard for the full ten days.
On the other hand, Swecker highlighted Walz’s actions that align with important issues, such as codifying abortion rights in Minnesota, making it the first state to do so.