RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia Democrats and Republicans are reacting to Vice President Kamala Harris’ decision to choose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate.
“Vice President Harris has picked someone that will work for all of us,” Susan Swecker, Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, told 8News.
“I have deep concerns as I’m sure any thinking American will about him being on this ticket,” said Rich Anderson, Chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia.
Swecker says Walz’s Midwest upbringing — plus his experience in the Army National Guard, in Congress and as Governor of Minnesota — will allow him to connect with voters across America.
“He is the kind of guy you want to invite into your living room and have come for dinner and sit and drink a beer with and just talk through things,” said Swecker.
On the other hand, Anderson has concerns about Walz and said that, by agreeing to run with Harris, Walz is signing off on what Anderson called the “dysfunction” caused by President Joe Biden.
“Extremely weak on the border that been porous in unprecedented ways and then considerable challenges in Minnesota,” Anderson said.
Another concern for Anderson is how Walz reacted to civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis Police officer in 2020.
“Whole areas in the Twin Cities burnt to the ground with rioters and he made a decision not to deploy the National Guard for the full ten days,” Anderson told 8News.
However, Swecker says Walz is on the right side when it comes to the issues Americans care about most.
“It’s very important for voters to understand that he did codify abortions in Minnesota and I believe he was the first governor, the first state to do that,” said Swecker.
