Walz is Bernie Sanders in Carhartt. Is that really who America wants?

If you read only the headlines, you’d probably think the best words that describe Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz are “folksy” and “Midwestern nice.” 
I beg to differ. 
Walz was named as Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ running mate Tuesday. Democrats seem thrilled that he looks like someone who’d be at home on a tractor, and that this will somehow persuade voters in the middle of the country to flock to the Democratic ticket come November.
In reality, Walz is just Bernie Sanders (the democratic socialist senator from Vermont) in Carhartt. 
Walz is very open about his views, and as governor he has put them into action. 
He summed up his philosophy on last week’s “White Dudes for Harris” fundraiser call: “Don’t ever shy away from our progressive values. One person’s socialism is another person’s neighborliness.” 
It’s extremely telling to look at who is most excited about Harris’ choice. They include far-left “Squad” members Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York. Sanders is also a fan. 
Perhaps it’s not a great sign for Walz that Bowman and one other Squad member, Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri, have lost their primaries this year, in part because of their anti-Israel views. 
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We already know that Harris hails from the progressive bastion of California and that as a U.S. senator racked up a reputation as the most liberal member. 
Let’s take a look at what Walz has done. 
Walz is in his second term as governor, but when he was reelected in 2022, the state government turned solidly blue, opening the door to bring the Democrat’s liberal wish list into fruition. 
And boy, has he. 
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Abortion rights: Under Walz, Minnesota has become about as pro-abortion as you can get through legislation. Abortion is allowed on demand at any stage of pregnancy. Walz even overturned a former “born alive” provision that offered some protections for babies who survived an abortion, as well as required documentation of these instances. In 2021, for example, the state reported five cases of infants who were still alive after an abortion. (None of them survived).  
Government knows best: Like many Democrats, Walz seems comfortable with the government taking over from parents when they make the “wrong” decisions. Last year, he signed a “trans refuge” bill that offers legal protection to children who come to Minnesota for so-called gender-affirming care like puberty blockers or surgery. Seeking this kind of care may also be used as a factor in child-custody decisions.
Not to be outdone, California Gov. Gavin Newsom last month signed the nation’s first-of-its-kind law banning school districts from requiring staff to let parents know if their children have changed their gender identity or sexual orientation. 
Free meals for all: Last year, Walz signed a bill that offers all K-12 students in the state free breakfast and lunch on school days. No surprise, the program is already costing millions more than anticipated. These kinds of programs that offer “free” stuff to everyone, regardless of need, are some of the most wasteful ideas that come from Democrats. Save welfare for those who need it most. 
Tax hikes for Minnesotans: To pay for his socialist (sorry, “neighborly”) policies, Walz has bucked the trend of many other governors and raised taxes. According to the Tax Foundation, this has led to “lackluster” economic performance in Minnesota. 
“Gov. Walz’s tax policy record is notable because of how much it contrasts with broader national trends,” said Jared Walczak, the Tax Foundation’s vice president of state projects at the Tax Foundation, in a statement. “In recent years, most governors have championed tax cuts. Walz, rare among his peers, chose tax increases.”
At Harris and Walz’s first rally together Tuesday in Philadelphia, Walz showed his true colors with a crude dig at his vice presidential rival Ohio Sen. JD Vance. 
Walz said he’d debate Vance “if he’s willing to get off the couch and show up.”
(Both Walz and Harris had a good laugh at this.)
Walz was referencing a completely made up viral social media post that had claimed Vance told an untoward story about himself and a couch in his memoir, “Hillbilly Elegy.” Vance didn’t ever write this or do this, and Walz’s “joke” says a lot about him. 
This is an election that voters keep saying is about the economy, illegal immigration and crime. And these are all issues that Democrats tend to score badly on. Americans are leaving states like Minnesota and California, which rank in the bottom 10 of states for net migration, for good reasons.
What’s most important to consider are the respective records of Harris and Walz – and the visions they have for our country.
I don’t want America to look more like California ‒ or Minnesota. 
Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques.