Summary
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’s running mate, suffered a personal setback in the 2024 election as he lost his home county, Blue Earth, to President-elect Donald Trump.
Trump won 49.6% of the vote there, while Harris received 48.3%, marking a symbolic defeat for Walz, who built his political career in the area.
Walz, a former teacher and congressman known for his moderate stance, had previously turned a Republican seat Democratic and won Minnesota’s governorship by a large margin in 2018.
His campaign faced challenges, including scrutiny over past statements about military service, which the Trump campaign leveraged as a “Stolen Valor” issue.
I think Pete Butigeg would have been a stronger candidate.
Speaking from across the pond, I think Pete would have been brilliant… but then that’s hardly part of the job description any more is it? A breeze block with the ability to talk shit and grift would unfortunately be a far more electable candidate this year.
Plus, if electing a woman was too troublesome for people to handle, what would happen if they fielded one of the gays!!!?!??
It’s a disgrace really. Either Pete or Kamala would have been a safe pair of hands.
I’m also from the UK but from what I could tell at least Pete has some personality. Kamala ran as the establishment manifested in human form, clumsily avoiding questions or policy details in media appearances. She was polling at 4% of popularity amongst democrat voters during the 2020 primaries. I think those factors were more influential than her being a woman,
Absolutely agree with you - I think perhaps Kamala was too safe a pair of hands and didn’t generate enough excitement - but then I’m too old for watching fancy headline grabbers (though Ed Davey’s approach to Lib Dem vote grabbing at the GE this year was highly entertaining) so to me, a boring but competent candidate is good for me.
I suppose I only brough up her gender and his sexuality because they both share an “outlier” characteristic that Republicans in general aren’t too fond of.
Nice to hear from you fellow Brit!