Gov. Tim Walz is pitching himself as a “battle-tested” leader prepared to face unpredictable headwinds from the federal government as he charges into his bid for a third term in office.

The second-term DFLer announced this week that he’s running for reelection and he set the stage for his campaign Friday night in front of a group of hundreds of supporters packed into a hotel ballroom. They hoisted “Walz for Governor” signs that also read “Stand up fight back” and waved small American and Minnesota flags.

Outside the ballroom, people took photos with the governor’s teal Harvest International Scout vintage vehicle with “One Minnesota” plates. And some donned Harris-Walz campaign hats and T-shirts, still fresh from an unsuccessful presidential run just months in the rearview.

Walz told sup

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