Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has acknowledged that his 2024 vice presidential campaign may have negatively affected his standing with voters in his home state. As he considers running for re-election, Walz expressed concerns about how his national aspirations could be perceived by Minnesotans.

In a recent interview, Walz stated, "People get tired of it. I get tired of myself at times." He has not yet made a decision regarding his re-election campaign. The governor, who previously ran alongside former Vice President Kamala Harris, noted that voters might be looking for "something new" in leadership. He suggested that returning to Minnesota after a national campaign could come off as being "too big for your britches."

At the Minnesota State Fair, opinions among voters were mixed. Cindy Jurgensen, a Democrat, expressed her desire for change, saying, "He should not run for a third term. It’s time for a change." Her husband, Curt Rahman, also a Democrat, countered her sentiment, stating, "I don’t see anybody that would do a better job." Jurgensen mentioned that she would prefer Senator Amy Klobuchar to run for governor.

During a recent address to Democrats at the party’s summer strategy meetings in Minneapolis, Walz criticized media narratives about divisions within the party. He remarked, "It boggles my d--- mind that in the midst of a military takeover of our cities and the attempt to go into others, their flaunting of the rule of law, the cruelness and the unconstitutional nature of the way they’re attacking our neighbors, that the press finds the need to talk about, ‘Oh, there’s a division in the Democratic Party.’" He added, "There’s a division in my d--- house, and we’re still married, and things are good. That’s life!"

Walz also reaffirmed his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), stating, "We’re not shying away from diversity as a strength, equity as a goal and inclusion as the air we breathe. That’s what we should be doing." As he navigates his political future, Walz's reflections on his past campaign and the sentiments of Minnesota voters will likely play a significant role in his decision-making.