Tim Walz:
Timothy James Walz was born on April 6th, 1964, in West Point, Nebraska. His mother was a homemaker, and his father was a teacher, school superintendent, and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. Walz and his three siblings grew up in rural northwestern Nebraska, which he would go on to credit for his values-based approach to politics, in an interview with The New York Times’ Ezra Klein: “A town that small had services like that and had a public school with a government teacher that inspired me to be sitting where I’m at today. Those are real stories in small towns.”
Walz later enlisted in the National Guard, two days after he turned 17, eventually reaching the rank of command sergeant major. After graduating from Chadron State College in 1989, Walz accepted a teaching position at Foshan No. 1 High School in Guangdong, China, where he learned Mandarin, which he still speaks today. After returning from China, Walz took a job teaching in Alliance, Nebraska, where he later met his wife Gwen, a fellow teacher. Two years later, the pair moved to Mankato, Minnesota, where Walz worked as a geography teacher and football coach at Mankato West High School. In 1999, only three years following Walz’s joining the team, Mankato West High School won its first-ever state championship. That same year, Walz agreed to serve as the faculty advisor for Mankato West High School’s first gay-straight alliance, as the straight, married football coach felt it was important to show that people from different worlds can coexist.
Following Walz’s completion of the twenty years of service required to retire from the National Guard, he re-enlisted rather than retiring. In 2003, he deployed to Italy in a support position of active military forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, but he was never himself in a combat zone. His retirement in 2005 has prompted criticism from Republicans who suggest that he abandoned his station in order to pursue a career in Congress. In May of 2005, Walz’s campaign issued a statement in March saying he still planned to run for Congress despite a possible mobilization of MN National Guard soldiers to Iraq. By May of that year, Walz retired from the service. In August 2005, the Army issued a mobilization order for Walz’s unit, and they deployed to Iraq in March of 2006. According to the AP, there isn’t evidence that Walz timed his departure with the intent of avoiding deployment. Walz’s military career came under further scrutiny after a 2018 clip resurfaced of Walz speaking against gun violence, saying, “We can make sure that those weapons of war, that I carried in war, is the only place where those weapons are at.” It’s reasonable to argue that this comment suggests that Walz himself spent time in a combat zone, which he did not. Republican vice presidential nominee J.D. Vance said of the remarks: “Do not pretend to be something that you’re not … I’d be ashamed if I was him and I lied about my military service like he did.” A spokeswoman for the Harris-Walz campaign later said in a statement that the Democratic vice presidential nominee “misspoke” when talking about his past military service.
Walz was first elected to Congress in 2006, in a massive upset, beating six-term Republican incumbent Gil Gutknecht, despite being outspent by almost half a million dollars. Walz would go on to be reelected five times in Minnesota’s rural, conservative 1st district, surviving the rise of the Tea Party in 2010, and Donald Trump carrying the district in 2016. In Congress, Walz’s voting record shows the roots of the progressive stances he would later take as Governor, but also the reality of representing a conservative district. He took liberal votes like voting in favor of the Affordable Care Act, raising the minimum wage in 2007, and voting against legislation that could subject doctors who perform abortions to criminal penalties. But he also once held an “A” rating from the NRA and broke with his party on farm, border security, and defense issues.
When Walz became governor of Minnesota, he embraced a significantly more progressive agenda. Walz’s first term was defined by the gridlock of a divided state government (with Republicans preserving a one-seat majority in the state senate but losing the state House of Representatives and the governor’s mansion) as well as combating the pandemic and the social unrest following George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police. Walz has received criticism on both of the latter fronts, including pandemic-related fraud that occurred under his administration’s watch, and in regards to whether or not he waited too long to deploy the MN National Guard to quell riots in Minnesota following George Floyd’s killing.
Despite these challenges, Democrats gained control of the state government trifecta following the 2022 elections. With a single-seat senate majority, Walz and Minnesota Democrats passed one of the most prominently progressive agendas in American history. Including the following: Universal free-school meals, the legalization of marijuana, mandating Minnesota exclusively use carbon-free electricity by 2040, tax rebates for the working-class, guaranteed twelve-week sick/family leave, banning conversion therapy, universal background checks for gun-ownership, automatic voter registration, the banning of PFAS, and free public college for students whose families make less than $80K. Walz’s policy record as governor combined with his record of winning in a conservative district has made him attractive to both the progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic Party.
According to reporting by POLITICO, Harris selected Walz as her vice presidential candidate due to all of these factors, as well as his general affability, despite the fact that the two had little relationship prior to the expedited selection process. Walz has generally been received positively by voters and the media and appears to be an effective surrogate for Harris, but time will only tell if Walz was the right pick. As of today, 42% of registered voters hold a favorable view of Walz, versus 32% for J.D. Vance. Although it should be said, both candidates are still not widely known, with 4/10 Americans not knowing enough about Walz to have an opinion, versus 3/10 for Vance. Voters will have the opportunity to learn more about both candidates on October 1st when CBS News hosts them for a vice-presidential debate.
J.D. Vance:
James David “J.D.” Vance was born on August 2, 1984, in Middletown, Ohio. Before becoming the Republican Vice Presidential nominee and a U.S. Senator, Vance gained national recognition as the author of Hillbilly Elegy, a memoir that explores the experiences of the white working class in Appalachia.
Vance’s parents divorced when he was young, and his mother struggled with substance abuse, which he wrote extensively about in his memoir. He was largely raised by his maternal grandparents, who had moved from eastern Kentucky to Middletown, Ohio. After graduating from Middletown High School in 2003, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Iraq during the Iraq War. Following his military service, Vance earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and philosophy from Ohio State University in 2009. He continued his studies at Yale Law School, where he earned a law degree in 2013. At Yale, Vance met his wife, Usha, and the mother of their three children.
Vance’s professional career began in the legal and investment sectors. He worked at the law firm Sidley Austin LLP and later as a tech venture capitalist in San Francisco. However, it was his literary debut that brought him into the spotlight. In 2016, Vance published his memoir, offering a candid look at the struggles of the white working class through his personal experiences and observations. The memoir was met with both praise and criticism. The New York Times described it as a “compassionate, discerning sociological analysis” that provided insight into the factors driving political discontent, particularly the rise of figures like Donald Trump. Vance’s portrayal of his family’s struggles and the broader socio-economic issues faced by working-class whites was seen as a valuable contribution to understanding American class dynamics. However, Hillbilly Elegy also faced criticism for allegedly reinforcing harmful stereotypes about poverty and Appalachian life. Some critics argued that Vance’s experiences were not universally representative of the region, and several rebuttals emerged in subsequent publications, challenging Vance’s portrayals and conclusions.
In 2016, Vance returned to Ohio and founded Our Ohio Renewal, a nonprofit aimed at addressing issues such as drug addiction and child welfare. Despite its initial promise, the organization eventually folded. Vance also started a venture capital firm, Narya Capital, in 2019, with significant backing from high-profile investors like Peter Thiel, Eric Schmidt, and Marc Andreessen.
Vance’s entry into politics came with a notable shift in his public stance. Initially, he was a vocal critic of Donald Trump, describing him as “a cynical asshole like Nixon” and expressing fears that Trump’s presidency could lead the white working class “to a very dark place.” However, by 2021, as he prepared for a U.S. Senate run, Vance had publicly reconciled with Trump, aligning himself with the MAGA movement. He apologized for his earlier criticisms and praised Trump, stating, “I regret being wrong about the guy. I think he was a good president, I think he made a lot of good decisions for people.” Vance has even endorsed the former president’s claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Vance’s dramatic shift has led some critics to accuse him of being a political “grifter.” Vance announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate on July 1, 2021. His campaign was bolstered by Trump’s endorsement and substantial financial support from conservative donors. Vance won the Republican primary in May 2022 with 32% of the vote and subsequently defeated Democrat Tim Ryan in the general election with 53% of the vote.
Sworn into the Senate on January 3, 2023, Vance’s early tenure has been marked by his focus on culture war issues and alignment with Trump-era policies. Despite his high profile, Vance’s legislative achievements have been limited. He sponsored 57 bills, none of which became law, and co-sponsored 288 bills, with 37 passing the Senate. His legislative priorities included measures on mask mandates, diversity initiatives, and sanctuary cities. He has consistently voted against major spending measures.
With regards to major issues, Vance has been a staunch opponent of U.S. aid to Ukraine, advocating for a negotiated peace with Russia and opposing further funding. In an April op-ed, Vance wrote, “I remain opposed to virtually any proposal for the United States to continue funding this war.” In a 2022 interview with Steve Bannon, Vance stated, “I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another.” This comment drew significant backlash from progressives, who viewed it as dismissing humanitarian concerns. He has also been critical of free trade, advocating for protectionist policies and tariff hikes on imported goods. On immigration, Vance has called for stringent measures, including the construction of a border wall and large-scale deportations. He also opposes gender-affirming healthcare for minors and introduced a Senate bill seeking to criminalize certain medical treatments for transgender youth. “Under no circumstances should doctors be allowed to perform these gruesome, irreversible operations on underage children,” he stated. In a 2021 interview with Tucker Carlson, Vance referred to certain Democrats as “a bunch of childless cat ladies,” a comment that drew significant backlash from progressives. Many interpreted the remark as an attack on women and a belittlement of those who do not adhere to traditional family structures. Vance defended his remarks by framing them as criticism of what he sees as anti-family policies promoted by some on the left, rather than an attack on individuals who are childless by choice or circumstance.
Donald Trump’s selection of Vance is seen as a reinforcement of the MAGA message rather than an attempt to create a more balanced ticket and appeal to independent voters. This choice has cemented Vance’s standing within the GOP. Ultimately, Election Day will reveal whether Vance’s blue-collar background can effectively mobilize working-class voters in key swing states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
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