Why Vance could struggle to make his San Francisco liberal attacks stick – Washington Examiner

Elaine MallonAugust 6, 2024

The article discusses Senator J.D. Vance’s recent‌ speech in South Philadelphia where he criticized Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, likening him to a “San Francisco-style liberal.” While Vance’s⁣ characterization reflects Walz’s progressive policies, such as supporting⁢ driver’s licenses for undocumented⁣ immigrants and advocating for rapid carbon-free energy initiatives, Walz’s⁢ personal⁢ background presents ⁤challenges to Vance’s narrative. Born⁤ and raised in Nebraska, Walz has a history as a high school ‌teacher and a National Guard⁣ veteran, ⁤which differentiates him from more elite political⁣ figures like Vice President Kamala ‌Harris. ‌His experiences and middle-class⁢ roots may resonate more with voters, complicating Vance’s efforts to label him with elitist critiques typically associated with‌ California politics.⁤ The article highlights‍ the difficulty Republicans may face in using ⁣this strategy against a candidate who embodies the values of service, practicality, and community engagement.

Why Vance could struggle to make his San Francisco liberal attacks stick

After giving a speech on Tuesday in South Philadelphia, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) likened Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate, Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), to a “San Francisco-style liberal.”

While it is true that Walz is a progressive Democrat who supports policies such as giving illegal immigrants driver’s licenses and pushing for carbon-free energy in Minnesota in a short time frame, his background as a high school teacher and an Army sergeant born and raised in Nebraska will make it hard for Republicans to tag him with the same elitist criticisms thrown to California-born Harris.

Walz joined the National Guard at 17, serving for 24 years. He attended a public university in Nebraska known as Chadron State College and later attended Minnesota State University Mankato for his master’s degree. He was able to finance his education through the G.I. Bill. Prior to entering politics, Walz was a history and geography teacher who coached high school football and sponsored the gay straight alliance club.

“Here’s a guy who actually knows how to fish, this is a guy who actually knows how to hunt, this is a guy who served our country in the National Guard,” Heidi Heitkamp, a former Democratic senator for North Dakota, told the New York Times.

Walz represents the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, which is primarily centered on advocating union workers and farmers and ensuring that Minnesotans can “raise and provide for a family.” Upon winning his seat, Politico described Walz as having “packaged himself as a moderate from Day One, built an office centered on constituent service and carved out a niche as a tireless advocate for veterans.”

He’s been serving as Minnesota’s governor since 2019 and has played a pivotal role in seeing increased protections for labor unions, free public breakfast and lunch at all public schools, and 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave in Minnesota. However, he’s garnered criticism for his handling of the Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd in 2020.

Walz stepped foot in San Francisco for the first time last month. Vance previously lived in the Bay Area four years after graduating from Yale Law School. Walz accuses the Right of “demonizing” places like San Francisco.

“It is the most beautiful city that I’ve ever been in,” Walz said in an interview on the Ezra Klein Show. “Have there been problems? Yes. Homelessness is an issue across the country.”