The Democrats’ stunning 2024 loss has not turned Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz away from the idea of running for the top office in the country.
Walz, last year’s vice presidential nominee under former Vice President Kamala Harris, did not rule out the idea of taking on the Republicans again—except this time, he could be the one running the show.
In an interview with The New Yorker, 60-year-old Walz said that he was willing to step up to the plate.
“Look, I never had an ambition to be President or Vice-President. I was honored to be asked,” he told the outlet. “If I feel like I can serve, I will. And if nationally, people are, like, ‘Dude, we tried you, and look how that worked out,’ I’m good with that.”
Democrats everywhere have been wondering what’s next after an astonishing defeat from Republicans last November, losing all seven swing states.
When Walz was asked to clarify, he said simply: “I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Harris is said to have been considering running again in 2028. California Gov. Gavin Newsom positioned himself as a possible contender in 2024 if President Joe Biden turned down reelection, but dutifully stood behind Harris after her run was announced. Other possibilities for the top spot include Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
While he mulls the idea of a presidential run, Democrats have been scrambling to come up with new ideas to reach out to voters. The party hoped to fight back against President Donald Trump during his term, but have so far failed to do anything meaningful in response to his tactics.
Since Trump’s inauguration, his administration has “flooded the zone” with dozens of controversial initiatives, creating a tough environment for Democrats to catch up.
In response to the 2024 loss, Walz said that he feels like he “let people down.”
“I still struggle with it,” Walz said. “It was my job to get this one.”
