October 13, 2024
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz responded to a criticism that he said he is against stripping the Electoral College and that what he means is making every vote in the United States count, no matter where you live. Walz defended his views in an interview with Fox News’ Shannon Bream, saying the current process undervalues votes in non-battleground states.
“People have to feel that every vote counts in every place of the country,” Walz said during the interview. He emphasized the need for a campaign approach that focuses on engaging voters across the nation rather than just in key battleground states.
Walz had earlier called for the dissolution of the Electoral College at a fundraiser at the home of the California governor Gavin Newsom, saying that a national popular vote should replace it. Yet, his comments drew ire from those who suspected that it would dismiss rural communities and neglect the concerns of small towns.
Walz quickly clarified his remarks, aligning with the Harris campaign’s official stance. He told ABC’s Michael Strahan that he supports the campaign’s position, saying, “I have spoken about it in the past, that she’s been very clear on this, and the campaign and my position is the campaign’s position.”
Walz in 2023 ratified Minnesota’s membership in the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which ensures the presidency will be granted to the winner of the national popular vote. State members of the compact agree to donate their electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote, no matter how their own voters vote.
He asked Walz as well about his new, evolving relationship with the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Harris campaign’s gun-control strategy. He answered to complaints about Harris’ position on private gun ownership, especially her recent remarks about confiscating guns.
“No one’s talking about that,” Walz said, downplaying the concerns and adding, “I was with my guns yesterday out pheasant hunting with my friends.” He explained that the NRA has shifted dramatically in recent years and argued that reforms like extreme risk protection orders and background checks would not infringe on gun rights.
He emphasized, “We can own guns, protect the Second Amendment, and still make sure that our first responsibility is to protect our children in society. I know we can do that.”
Walz’s remarks illustrate the art of reconciling issues like voter representation, gun control and safety in a era when political pressure and public scrutiny is the new normal for a presidential candidate ahead of the 2024 election.
