Tim Walz Launches Town Hall Tour in GOP Districts

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is embarking on a tour of Republican-held congressional districts to hold town hall meetings, responding to GOP representatives who have ceased in-person events amid backlash from constituents.

The tour kicks off on Friday, March 14, in Des Moines, Iowa, where Walz will meet with residents in the district of Republican Representative Zach Nunn. Following Iowa, Walz plans to head to Nebraska where he will stop in Representative Don Bacon’s district. Future stops are anticipated in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Ohio, with the schedule likely expanding as additional invitations pour in.

Walz, who is also a 2024 vice presidential candidate, expressed his motivation for the tour. “There was just a primal scream of folks recognizing what’s going on with the Trump administration, their authoritarian tendencies,” Walz said in an interview. “These folks need to be heard.”

The governor’s initiative comes after House Republican leaders reportedly urged their members to avoid town halls due to heated confrontations witnessed at similar events across the country. Critics within the GOP accused Democrats of orchestrating the disruptions with paid activists, although they have not provided substantiating evidence.

Walz remarked that he was encouraged by the public’s response to his announcement, which resonated with many constituents eager for dialogue with their representatives. “I always feared that they would become apathetic after this last election and just check out, but they are not doing that,” he stated.

While independent Senator Bernie Sanders has conducted town halls in the Midwest over the past month, Walz is one of the few prominent Democrats actively engaging in this way. He attributes the lack of such initiatives to his party’s struggle to reassess its approach post-2020 election but urges Democrats to actively mobilize against the current administration.

“I’m a catalyst to provide them a megaphone to lift up their voice,” Walz explained, underscoring the importance of listening to constituents. “I have a little more of a national voice, so I should bring it to them.”

Reflecting on his previous experiences during the rise of the Tea Party, Walz cautioned current Republican leaders about ignoring the sentiments of their constituents. “I understand now my responsibility to engage and amplify their concerns,” he added. “This isn’t about drawing a crowd. It’s about making a difference for those who feel unheard.”

In recent weeks, Walz has been increasingly visible after a period of relative quiet following his campaign alongside Kamala Harris last year. Many political observers anticipate that he will pursue a third term as governor in 2026, yet Walz downplayed any ambitions beyond his gubernatorial responsibilities. “I do not need to be on that ticket,” he said. “My pursuit is that I am still in a position where I have a platform and I have some power to make a difference.”