Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate, made a direct appeal to Republican and Libertarian voters in Nebraska during a rally in Omaha on Saturday. Emphasizing his roots in the Cornhusker State, Walz sought to connect with voters by highlighting their shared values and concerns about the current political climate.
He began by invoking Nebraska’s motto, ‘Nebraska. It’s not for everyone,’ and pointedly declared, ‘Well, it sure ain’t for Donald Trump, I’ll tell you that. This guy is the opposite of everything here.’
Drawing a clear distinction between traditional Republican values and the policies of the current administration, Walz stated, ‘I know where I’m at, and I know my family. Many of you can probably remember when Republicans talked about freedom. They meant it. They would never turn their backs on our allies. The traditional Republican Party before Donald Trump contributed much to this state and this great nation. But he’s not that.’
Walz further expanded on this theme by criticizing the current Republican stance on issues like abortion and environmental protection. ‘Today, when they talk about freedom, they mean the government should be free to invade your exam room,’ he said, referencing abortion restrictions. ‘Or that corporations should be free to pollute the air and water, banks should be free to take advantage of the least fortunate.’
Addressing the Libertarian presence in Nebraska, Walz reiterated his often-used phrase, ‘Mind your own damn business,’ emphasizing his belief in individual liberty and limited government intervention. He stated, ‘You don’t need [the] government to tell you about your health care. You don’t need [the] government to pick your books out that you can read. Look, folks, this becomes really personal.’
Walz specifically targeted the issue of healthcare choices, saying, ‘And, for me, this idea about the health care decisions we make and the choices about our family, that’s your family. You don’t need me. You don’t need Donald Trump. You don’t need anyone in [the] government telling you about your family. But that’s exactly what they’re doing. … If you’re an old-school Libertarian, Republican, Nebraskan, this is the ticket for you. This is the ticket for you.’
The governor’s presence in Omaha was strategically chosen due to Nebraska’s unique Electoral College system, where some votes are allocated by congressional district. While the state is largely considered Republican, its 2nd Congressional District has leaned Democrat in recent elections. This district played a key role in Barack Obama’s 2008 victory, marking the first time since 1964 that a Democrat had split Nebraska’s electoral votes. Joe Biden also won the district’s single electoral vote in 2020. This year, both the Harris-Walz ticket and Donald Trump are targeting this district as a potential swing area in a close election.
The Democratic campaign strategy in Nebraska mirrors their efforts in other battleground states, with both Harris and Walz attending rallies in key locations like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. The Democratic National Convention will take place in Chicago next week.
