Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Monday that Kamala Harris picked him as her running mate to “code talk to white guys.” Speaking at a Harvard Kennedy School forum, Walz described himself as the “permission structure” for rural white men to vote for the Democratic ticket. He admitted the strategy failed, as many of those voters still backed President Donald Trump.
“I also was on the ticket, quite honestly, because I could code talk to white guys watching football, fixing their truck, doing that, then I could put them at ease,” Walz said. “I was the permission structure to say you can do this and vote for this, and you look across those swing states, with the exception of Minnesota, we didn’t get enough of those votes.” He called Harris one of the most qualified candidates in history and said time would judge the voters’ decision.
According to an NBC News exit poll, Harris only won 38% of white, male voters. Trump secured 60% of that group and also led among Latino men with 54% to Harris’s 44%. The numbers exposed the campaign’s struggles with key demographics.
The Harris campaign tried to frame Walz as a relatable Midwestern everyman. Ads highlighted his love for football and hunting. But video showed him fumbling with a firearm and complaining the recoil hurt his shoulder.
An activist group called “White Dudes for Harris” tried to rally white men against Trump. The group urged voters not to fall for what it called Trump’s “hateful and divisive ideology.” The effort didn’t produce the results Democrats hoped for.
Walz also took flak for botching a football term while streaming a Madden game with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. “We can run a mean pick 6,” he said, misusing a phrase that actually refers to an interception returned for a touchdown. Critics said the moment undercut the campaign’s effort to make him look like an authentic sports guy.
Harris reportedly chose Walz to help win over voters in Rust Belt states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. Politico noted that his past experience representing a rural congressional district made him appealing to Democrats trying to reach “flyover country.” But insiders later questioned if he was the right fit.
Walz’s record as governor includes several progressive policies that sparked controversy. He backed laws allowing tampons in boys’ bathrooms, supported taking custody from parents who oppose sex-change procedures, and promoted Minnesota as an abortion sanctuary state. These moves energized progressives but alienated moderates.
Democratic strategists criticized the campaign’s use of Walz. Len Foxwell said the team placed him in “canned and staged rural settings that made him look both uncomfortable and inauthentic.” Adolph Mongo argued that Gov. Josh Shapiro or Gov. Roy Cooper would’ve been better picks.
Meanwhile, Trump made gains with male voters by appearing on podcasts like “The Joe Rogan Experience” and “This Past Weekend.” His team credited 18-year-old Barron Trump with helping book the appearances. Latino support for Trump also surged, driven by concerns over the economy and immigration.