Gov. Tim Walz vowed Friday to keep fighting for his beliefs in the face of a national political loss, using his first public remarks since Election Day to acknowledge the difficulty of the moment and promise to seek common ground across different viewpoints.
“It’s hard to lose,” Walz said in a speech at Eagan High School’s auditorium before a group of friends, family and partisan supporters. “It’s hard to understand how so many of our fellow citizens — people Democrats have long fought to help — wound up choosing the path they did. And it’s hard to reckon with what that path looks like over the next four years.”
Walz didn’t detail his own political plans, but said that as long as he’s governor, Minnesota would protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions, protect unions, welcome immigrants, fight climate change, protect children from being shot at schools, respect democracy and not demonize those who disagree about policies.
Walz has two years remaining in his second term as governor. Minnesota does not term limit its governors, so Walz could run again. Friday’s speech was arranged in the past 48 hours. As the running mate to Vice President Kamala Harris, Walz had hoped to be packing for Washington, D.C., not giving a consolation speech.
“If you’re feeling deflated and discouraged today, I want you to know that I get it,” he said.
The governor urged everyone to take some time and take care of themselves, their loved ones and communities. “There are a million ways to make a difference; get back in the fight when you’re ready,” he said.
Despite the loss, Walz said his travels in the past three months left him more inspired than ever about what’s possible in America. He spoke of new friends. “I ate way too much local food,” Walz said with a laugh, then took a swipe at his Republican counterpart. “But I can order doughnuts, people.”
Everyone he met, Walz said, wants the same basic things. “And when I say basic things, I mean things like meaningful work, safe neighborhoods, good schools, affordable health care,” Walz said, adding that they also want opportunity, security and freedom.