Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has come under scrutiny for a DUI arrest from 1995 in Nebraska after being selected as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate. At the time of the incident, Walz was a 31-year-old teacher when he was pulled over near Chadron, Nebraska for driving 96 mph in a 55-mph zone. He was found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.128% during a blood test at a hospital after failing field sobriety and breath tests. Walz pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving in March 1996, paying a $200 fine and losing his license for 90 days. He stated that he quit drinking alcohol following the incident and now prefers Diet Mountain Dew.
The DUI incident resurfaced in 2006 and again in 2018 during Walz’s political campaigns. His campaign staff in 2006 provided misleading information to news outlets, claiming he was not drunk due to a hearing loss from his service in the National Guard, and suggesting balance issues may have affected the sobriety test. However, court records do not mention any ear issues, and it was revealed in 2022 that Walz acknowledged his intoxication in court.
Despite the past controversy, Walz’s wife noted that the incident served as a wake-up call for him to change his ways. Walz had ear surgery in 2005 to address his hearing loss. Following his appointment as Harris’ running mate, there has been increased scrutiny from Republicans and media outside Minnesota regarding his handling of the 1995 DUI incident. The Harris-Walz campaign has not commented on why inaccurate information was provided by his former campaign staffers.