Minnesota Governor is ideal partner for Vice President Harris

Lisa McCormick today called on Vice President Kamala Harris to select Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

McCormick highlighted Walz’s consistent advocacy for economic fairness, support for veterans, and commitment to working families, making him an ideal partner in the fight for a more equitable America.

"Governor Tim Walz has shown time and again that he stands with working families and against the interests of wealthy oligarchs," McCormick stated. "His vote against the TARP bailouts for Wall Street demonstrated his commitment to protecting taxpayers and holding financial institutions accountable."

During the economic crisis in 2008, Walz was a vocal opponent of using taxpayer money to bail out financial institutions. In late September, he voted against the $700 billion TARP bill, which purchased troubled assets from these institutions.

Following the bailout bill's passage, Walz released a statement saying, "The bill we voted on today passes the buck when it comes to recouping the losses taxpayers might suffer. I also regret that this bill does not do enough to help average homeowners or provide sufficient oversight of Wall Street." For similar reasons, in December 2008, he voted against the bill that offered $14 billion in government loans to bail out the country's large automobile manufacturers.

In June 2009, Walz introduced a bipartisan resolution calling on the federal government to "relinquish its temporary ownership interests in the General Motors Company and the Chrysler Group, LLC, as soon as possible," emphasizing that the government must not be involved in those companies' management decisions. Despite his votes against bailout bills that loaned taxpayer money to large banks and auto manufacturers, Walz supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

"Tim Walz has consistently put people over profits, and his leadership during the economic crisis is proof of his dedication to the American people," McCormick said. "As a public school teacher for 20 years, he understands the importance of education and has fought tirelessly to lower tuition costs. In a February 12, 2009 speech, he rightly said that the most important thing to do to ensure a solid base for America's economic future is to provide the best education possible for our children."

McCormick also praised Walz for his strong stance on reproductive rights, noting his 100% rating from Planned Parenthood. "Governor Walz’s support for abortion rights aligns with the values of the Democratic Party and the needs of women across this nation," she said.

"With his track record of advocating for economic justice, supporting veterans, and championing education, Tim Walz is the right choice for Vice President Harris’s running mate," said McCormick, an advocate for responsible citizenship who garnered nearly 40% of the vote against US Senator Bob Menendez in the 2018 Democratic primary with a grassroots campaign that spent less than $5000. "Together, they can lead a campaign that prioritizes the needs of working families and challenges the power of wealthy oligarchs."