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In a candid new interview, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz opened up about his time on the campaign trail with former Vice President Kamala Harris and the challenges that the Democratic Party has faced in recent years.
Walz, who was briefly considered as a potential vice-presidential candidate during the 2020 race, spoke frankly about his role in Harris' campaign, his views on the Democratic Party's approach to voters, and his own struggles to bring bold progressive change to the table.
During an interview with New York Magazine, Walz shared a blunt self-assessment, acknowledging both his strengths and weaknesses. He discussed how he warned Harris prior to joining her presidential campaign that he could be a “train wreck” at times.
“I said about 90 percent of the time, I can be really good, but about 10 percent of the time, I can be a train wreck because I’m speaking from the heart, like a teacher sitting in a teachers lounge or a laborer sitting at the break table,” Walz explained.
His self-deprecating comments were a reflection of his unvarnished honesty and his commitment to speaking authentically, whether it resonated with voters or not. Walz's forthrightness in acknowledging his potential flaws showed a level of humility that is often rare in politics.
He didn't shy away from acknowledging that his approach to politics—rooted in deep empathy and concern for ordinary people—could sometimes come off as less polished or more rough around the edges.
Despite this, it was clear that Walz sees himself as someone who is ultimately driven by a desire to connect with people on a deeper level.
Walz’s comments also underscored his belief in staying true to one's roots. For him, speaking from the heart was more important than maintaining a perfect political persona. It was this authenticity that helped him connect with the people of Minnesota and that he hoped would resonate with voters nationally.
However, he acknowledged that, despite his good intentions, there were times when his approach simply didn't align with the expectations or needs of a national political campaign.
Governor Walz’s reflections on his role in the Harris campaign also offered insight into his broader views on the Democratic Party’s recent challenges. He admitted that he had expected Harris to choose someone with a background in education or law enforcement—like himself—over more establishment figures, such as hedge-fund managers or billionaires.
"I thought they would choose the district attorney and the teacher over the hedge-fund manager and the billionaire," Walz remarked, adding his thoughts on how the Democratic ticket ended up being formed.
However, despite these optimistic expectations, Walz conceded that the Democratic ticket struggled to capture the public’s imagination during the 2020 presidential race.
The Harris-Walz ticket ultimately fell short against President Trump and Vice President Vance, the GOP ticket, leading to what Walz described as a loss due to the inability to be bold enough in the campaign’s message and outreach.
“We weren’t bold enough,” Walz admitted, reflecting on the shortcomings of the Democratic ticket during the election. “Maybe we’re not aspirational,” he continued, touching on a key issue that has been widely discussed among Democratic circles in the wake of their loss in the 2020 presidential race.
Walz’s comments also reflect a growing concern within the Democratic Party: that it has failed to connect with large swaths of the electorate. He highlighted a key moment in his campaign when a Democratic message aimed at Black voters, specifically the restoration of felon voting rights, was met with indifference.
"I heard this from someone who said, with Democratic go-to messages, basically to Black men, these Democratic politicians led with ‘We restored felon voting rights,’ and the Black men said, ‘But we’re not felons, we’re MBAs looking for capital,’” Walz recounted.
This exchange underscored a serious gap in the party’s outreach to diverse communities. While the restoration of felon voting rights is an important achievement, it wasn’t enough to inspire those voters who felt disconnected from the party’s broader message.
Walz’s comments reflect the frustration of many Democrats who feel that their party has focused too heavily on symbolic victories—such as the restoration of voting rights—without offering a concrete vision for economic opportunity or the future.
He went on to compare the Democratic message unfavorably with the flashy, attention-grabbing tactics of Donald Trump, who regularly showcased his wealth and celebrity status.
"With Donald Trump, everything’s gold-plated and he’s hanging around with these stars, and I don’t know if we do enough of that,” Walz said, highlighting the contrasting styles of campaigning and the type of aspirational message that Trump has consistently used to energize his base.
For Walz, the Democratic Party's biggest failing has been its inability to offer a bold and inspiring vision for the future. Instead of speaking directly to the aspirations of everyday voters—whether they be in minority communities or working-class white communities—Democrats have often been mired in policy debates that fail to capture the imagination of the electorate.
Walz suggested that the party needed to rethink its messaging and broaden its appeal in order to energize the voters who feel left behind by both political parties.
One of the key moments in Walz’s interview came when he addressed Kamala Harris’ preparation for the presidential race. According to Walz, the vice president didn’t have enough time to be bold and truly make an impact in the race.
He noted that after Joe Biden dropped out of the race, Harris had to quickly pick up the mantle of leadership with little time to prepare. “Well, I won’t critique the campaign. They need to do what they need to do, but I don’t think Vice President Harris got to be bold. We were dealing with a short runway. That was that one election,” Walz said.
This comment was an acknowledgment that Harris’ candidacy was thrust into the spotlight with limited time and preparation. Walz sympathized with her struggle, noting that she was under immense pressure to perform in a short amount of time.
Despite the odds, however, he believed that Harris had the potential to do better with more time to prepare and a clearer strategy.
Walz also warned against reading too much into the 2020 race, suggesting that the struggles of the Democratic Party over the past few election cycles went beyond any single candidate.
"I think it would be foolish for us to take a ton of lessons from that because this has been going on for several cycles, certainly since 2016, that we are really struggling to broaden our appeal and energize folks,” Walz said. This statement encapsulated his belief that the Democratic Party’s struggles are part of a broader, systemic issue that requires more than just one election cycle to solve.
Looking ahead, Walz’s comments raise several important questions about the future direction of the Democratic Party. While Kamala Harris has largely stayed quiet about her political future, there are rumors that she may be considering a bid for governor of California in 2026.
If she does decide to run, it could represent a major shift in her career and her approach to politics. However, Walz’s comments about the need for boldness and inspiration suggest that any future campaign, whether for governor or president, will need to offer a more aspirational vision for the country.
In the meantime, Harris has signed with a top talent agency for representation, signaling that she may be preparing for a potential return to the national political stage, whether in 2026 or 2028. As Democrats continue to search for strong candidates for the 2028 presidential election, it’s clear that the party will need to reevaluate its messaging and approach to win back the trust of disillusioned voters.
For Walz, the next few years will be crucial in determining the future trajectory of the Democratic Party. His comments about the party’s struggles and the need for boldness suggest that Democrats must reevaluate their approach to both governance and campaigning if they are to succeed in the coming elections.
