Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2024, issued a stark warning to his party: reconnect with rural and working-class voters or face dire consequences. During a June 13th speech at the Center for American Progress, Governor Walz expressed serious concern about the party’s current trajectory.

His alarm was fueled, in part, by recent events such as the controversial removal of Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) from a press conference led by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. While the White House and DHS defended the actions as necessary, Governor Walz framed the incident as symptomatic of a broader pattern of perceived overreach by the party.

The Governor revealed that he first learned of the Padilla incident during his testimony before the House Oversight Committee, highlighting the increasing disconnect between the party’s actions and the concerns of a significant portion of the electorate. This underscores the urgency of Walz’s call for a renewed focus on reaching out to and understanding the needs of rural and working-class communities.