After being selected as Vice President Harris’ running mate, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, a Democrat, is receiving criticism from various parent groups who question his “pro-family” claims.
On Tuesday, Harris revealed Walz, a former congressman, as her VP candidate for the 2024 election against former President Trump. The Harris campaign praised Walz’s experience as a high school teacher, coach, and veteran, citing his commitment to “working families.”
Contrastingly, some parent groups contend that Walz’s progressive stance on issues like children’s health, education, and crime conflict with his portrayal as a family advocate.
“Tim Walz is the most anti-parent running mate Kamala Harris could have selected,” Tiffany Justice, co-founder of Moms for Liberty, stated to Fox News Digital. “It’s essentially a slap in the face to parents.”
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz addresses reporters following a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House on July 3, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
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Justice and other parent-led groups criticized the Democratic governor for endorsing a law in 2023, which allowed out-of-state minors to access sex change surgeries. Critics claimed this would undermine parental rights by removing custody from those who disagreed with transitioning their child.
“Minnesota… is a welcoming, loving state where you’ll find no discrimination or anything we’re witnessing in other states,” Walz remarked at the time, as reported by Minnesota Public Radio.
He labeled Republicans as “bullies” for prohibiting these controversial treatments for young people in their states.
“The notion that your child can come to Minnesota and be transitioned without your knowledge or consent is nonsense and a blatant violation of parental rights,” Justice responded.
Detransitioner Chloe Cole addresses a news conference on Capitol Hill on September 20, 2022, advocating for legislation to ban gender-affirming healthcare for transgender individuals under 18. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
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Elizabeth McCauley, a mother of three and co-founder of The Virginia Mavens, accused Walz of acting under the influence of teachers unions and the transgender community regarding children’s health matters.
“While many reasonable governors are tackling the unethical surgical procedures on minors, Governor Walz has disregarded the science and the irreversible damage of ‘gender-affirming care,’ formally endorsing it through legislation. With such an extreme set of progressive priorities, Walz won’t serve our nation well, especially for families and parents,” she told Fox News Digital.
Since being chosen as Harris’ running mate, Walz has faced renewed criticism for his handling of the George Floyd riots in 2020, along with the Covid-19 mandates he enacted that year. Parent organizations that spoke with Fox News Digital accused Walz of allowing cities to burn for days during the riots while enforcing school lockdowns.
“Walz has been too lenient on crime, anti-parent, and overly progressive, causing more harm than good for Minnesota,” McCauley stated. “I feel a deep sadness when visiting my family in Minnesota as the state declines. Once a safe and enjoyable city to visit – Minneapolis – has turned into a crime-ridden area. Walz not only tolerated the George Floyd rioters but has failed to aid in restoring the cities and businesses that were devastated during the summer of protests,” she added.
Gov. Tim Walz’s delayed reaction to rioters burning down cities during the summer of 2020 received criticism from parent groups. (Getty Images)
“Walz was a COVID tyrant, imposing stringent lockdowns in Minnesota – except for the rioters, which he apparently found acceptable,” Justice pointed out. “He allowed Minneapolis to burn during the riots… He’s more than just ‘weird.’ He’s radical.”
Nicole Neily, president of Parents Defending Education, argued that children’s education quality in Minnesota had deteriorated under Walz’s leadership.
She asserted that Walz had favored progressive agendas over educational standards within the classroom.
“Gov. Walz’s education record warrants an F – even if graded on a curve,” Neily explained to Fox News Digital.
“Yes, education spending has surged under his administration – but it’s crucial to note that a substantial portion of the funds hasn’t reached classrooms, but rather has been diverted towards progressive initiatives such as providing menstrual products in boys’ restrooms. Instead of fostering critical thinking, Minnesota students are being educated on what to think through new ideology-driven social studies standards and an ethnic studies requirement that centers on identity politics,” she elaborated.
“Gov. Walz’s education performance deserves an F – even if evaluated on a curve,” Nicole Neily remarked to Fox News Digital. (iStock)
“Statistics illustrate the reality: student performance in Minnesota has plummeted, with the average 4th-grade reading score dipping below the national average for the first time, while most K-12 students fail to achieve grade-level proficiency in reading or math based on the state’s assessment tests (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments),” she continued.
In the same year Walz enacted the “gender-affirming care” law, he also passed legislation providing free meals for schoolchildren and expanded free Pre-K access for thousands of families in the state, actions that garnered approval from teachers unions.
“Educators are energized and united to support the Harris-Walz campaign. We trust that a genuine partnership will persist to enhance access to free meals for students, improve student mental health resources, and relieve educators from overwhelming debt, endeavoring to ensure the safety of our communities and schools,” Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, stated in a press release.
“Congratulations @Tim_Walz! His tenure as Governor has been outstanding, featuring unprecedented funding for education, upholding reproductive rights, expanding collective bargaining, and promoting affordable childcare and paid family leave. @KamalaHarris made an excellent choice!” expressed American Federation of Teachers union leader Randi Weingarten in a post on X.
Former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos remarked on X, “Anyone who elicits such enthusiasm from Randi is a 5-alarm fire for parents and students.”
Walz also receives support from prominent progressives including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and members of “the Squad.”
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Pelosi defended Walz against claims of being a radical leftist during her appearance on MSNBC Tuesday.
“Characterizing him as left-leaning is utterly unrealistic. He’s a centrist, embodying the heartland values of America,” she stated on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“It’s perplexing for me to see someone I worked with, who is, shall we say, right down the middle, labeled as left in this context,” she continued.
Walz’s office has not yet provided a comment in response to requests.
Contributions for this report were made by Fox News’ Cortney O’Brien, Chris Pandolfo, and Kyle Morris.
