DES MOINES, Iowa — On Friday, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota addressed a crowd of Iowans, confessing that the complexities facing the nation are beyond his immediate solutions. “If I had all the answers, we wouldn’t be in such a dire situation,” he candidly stated.
Although no longer a vice presidential hopeful or any kind of candidate as of now, Walz is actively engaging with voters again. Following the previous year’s electoral defeat, he is resurfacing, participating in national media interviews, and recently speaking at the Montana Democratic Party’s annual dinner.
Walz has embarked on a town hall tour, focusing on competitive districts currently held by Republican representatives. This tour was announced via social media, partly as a reaction to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s suggestion that GOP representatives avoid holding town halls, labeling protests outside them as orchestrated by “professional protesters.”
“In chaotic times like these, it’s crucial for elected officials to listen to the public’s concerns,” Walz emphasized. “Democratic leaders should heed the loud cries for action coming from across America.”
He clarified that his visit wasn’t meant to attack U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, whose district hosted nearly 1,000 attendees at the high school auditorium event on Friday. However, Walz urged Nunn to address constituent questions openly. Nunn narrowly secured reelection in Iowa’s 3rd congressional district in 2024, winning by a slim margin of under 16,000 votes.
The Iowa Democratic Party quickly mobilized to organize the event after receiving Walz’s call on Monday evening, according to Paige Godden, the party’s communications director.
Walz received an enthusiastic standing ovation from the audience, many of whom wore shirts with messages advocating for political activism. Inquiries posed to Walz by a schoolteacher, a high school senior, and a VA medical center employee touched on topics like healthcare, financial aid, and veterans’ funding.
Mike Suggett from Pleasant Hill, a retired teacher who once taught Nunn, expressed frustration over receiving generic responses to his letters to Nunn. He criticized Nunn, calling him “too much of a coward” to engage directly with constituents. “Direct interaction with our representatives is what we crave,” Suggett insisted.
Nunn responded in an emailed statement, asserting that he regularly conducts “hundreds of listening sessions” to connect with Iowans and insists he is effectuating the changes “Iowans voted for in November.” He dismissed the forums held by out-of-state Democrats as mere fundraisers in disguise, claiming he is committed to achieving tangible results.
In 2023, Walz frequently visited Iowa supporting then-President Joe Biden, mingling at the state fair, raising funds for local Democrats, and drawing contrasts between Biden and Republican candidates before Iowa’s GOP caucuses.
This weekend, Walz will travel to Nebraska, his childhood home, with plans to visit Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio next. His focus on the Midwest and Rust Belt regions stems from his absence in these areas in the last campaign after President Biden withdrew, allowing Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic ticket.
While Walz chose not to run for Senate in the upcoming election, he remains a prospective candidate for the 2028 presidential race.
Reflecting on the 2024 election results, Walz acknowledged that some voters perceived no significant difference between the presidential candidates of both parties, admitting that Democrats struggled to effectively communicate their stance on issues like immigration and Social Security. He expressed a desire to understand voters’ perspectives better.
Andrea Smith, a veteran, and her daughter, Liberty, had already planned to be in Des Moines, 120 miles from their home in West Branch, to advocate for veteran’s rights, and extended their visit to participate in the Walz event.
“He resonated with us,” Liberty Smith remarked. “During election season, he seemed authentic.”
Attending Walz’s gathering was a means for May Dehaan to highlight constituents’ discontent to Nunn. Donning a shirt that read: “This is not normal,” Dehaan, a retired interior designer from Clive, lamented, “He’s clearly not attuned to his voters but rather sticking to GOP narratives.” “We are wearied by being overlooked,” she added.
