Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’ running mate in the 2024 presidential election, isn’t sugarcoating the defeat.
In a candid interview with Politico, he admitted their campaign lacked boldness. He believes the Democratic Party must take more risks if they want to reclaim the White House in 2028.
Walz didn’t mince words—his team played it too safe. The campaign relied too much on controlled messaging and missed opportunities for direct voter engagement. “We shouldn’t have been playing this thing so safe,” Walz said.
The campaign had only 107 days to rally support after Harris replaced President Joe Biden as the nominee on August 5. With Biden stepping down due to concerns over age and mental fitness, Harris and Walz had to build momentum overnight.
They found themselves scrambling against a well-oiled Trump-Vance campaign machine.
Walz believes their campaign should have been more aggressive. More town halls, unscripted moments, and direct voter interactions could have made the difference.
Instead, they opted for a cautious approach, avoiding potential controversies but also missing opportunities to energize voters.
“These are things you might have been able to get your sea legs 18 months out, where the stakes were a lot lower,” Walz reflected.
Instead, they were thrown into a high-stakes battle with little time to experiment or take bold steps.
The final results made it clear: playing it safe didn’t work. Harris and Walz lost to Trump by an electoral college margin of 312 to 226, with a 1.5% deficit in the popular vote.
Even more concerning, Republicans took control of both houses of Congress, giving Trump a clear path to push his agenda.
Despite the setback, Walz isn’t retreating. He hasn’t announced a 2028 presidential bid, but he isn’t ruling it out. “I’m staying on the playing field to try and help because we have to win,” he said.
In the meantime, he’s focusing on reconnecting with voters across the country. He plans to be a visible presence in key congressional districts, engaging with both mainstream and non-traditional media to rebuild trust with the American people.
He argues the Democratic Party needs to meet voters where they are—not just in traditional strongholds but everywhere.
The Democratic Party is facing a tough road ahead. Losing the White House and Congress in one election cycle is a gut punch, and regaining ground won’t be easy. But Walz believes the path forward isn’t about waiting for a political savior—it’s about grassroots engagement.
At a recent event in Montana, he told a crowd, “No charismatic leader is coming to save us. Our way back out of the wilderness is sitting at each and every one of these tables.”
The lesson from 2024 is clear: caution won’t win elections. If Democrats want to take back power, they’ll need to take chances, connect with voters on a deeper level, and stop playing it safe.
Walz is already laying the groundwork, and his reflections may shape how the party approaches the next battle for the White House.
Clark is a 26-year-old expert working for consumer protection, Clark has dedicated years to identifying and exposing fraudulent schemes. He is working with NGOs to help people who are victims of scams. In his free time, Todd plays football or goes to a bar.
