Capitol View for August 7

Good morning. Buckle up, it’s going to be quite the ride.

Minnesota has second place down pat. Tim Walz, the two-term governor who hadn’t really been pegged as a political riser, is now on the Democratic ticket as the running mate of Kamala Harris. He rode a wave of momentum since mid-July to the national scene and now he’ll spend the next 90 days bopping across the country to try to help his party keep the White House. Walz is a former House member who escaped Washington for the stature of a governor’s mansion. He could be headed back. Dana Ferguson traces his path to the big time.

He was introduced by Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris at a boisterous rally in Philadelphia, where the basketball arena was packed. Harris touted her new running mate's credentials inside and out of politics. She highlighted his time as a teacher , a 24-year National Guard member and as a football coach on a state title-winning team. "And in 91 days, the nation will know Coach Walz by another name: vice president of the United States," she said, describing him as a fighter for the middle class and a patriot. Walz heaped praise on Harris when it was his turn to speak. “She believes in the opportunity for every single person to join the middle class. She believes in the promise of America. We've just got to fight. We've just got to fight. As soon-to-be President Harris says, 'when we fight, we win.'" Republicans panned the new duo as too liberal for America. Walz is the third Minnesota politician in about 60 years to be added to a presidential ticket. Sens. Hubert H. Humphrey and Walter Mondale both held the job in Democratic administrations.

Tim Walz used a teleprompter as he delivered his remarks. That might be a feat in itself, especially if the Harris campaign can keep him disciplined in his message. Walz loves to go on tangents and punctuation isn’t always his strong suit. The big speech has always been something of a struggle for Walz. There was the State of the State speech where he used an outline but riffed at times. It’s fascinating given that his wife and most trusted adviser, Gwen Walz, was a speech and debate coach earlier in her teaching career.

Minnesota’s keyboard warriors did their thing upon the Walz selection. The newsroom compiled some of the many, many memes, jokes and jabs that capture Minnesota’s “interesting” sense of humor. And yes, since the State Fair will soon be upon us, there will be crop art.

Why did Kamala Harris choose Tim Walz? Politico reports that Harris loved Walz’s governing record, biography and his record of winning tough races. Despite having little relationship prior to the vice presidential selection process, two sources close to the process said that Walz and Harris connected during their one-on-one interview over the weekend. Walz is also seen by the Harris camp as a good messenger, coining the phrase “weird” to describe former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance. The remarks immediately went viral.

What happens now in Minnesota politics? Don't assume it's all settled. The selection of Gov. Tim Walz as a Democratic vice presidential candidate could trigger a cascade of political leadership changes in Minnesota if the newly minted ticket wins. But it’s important to note at the outset that the timing of any Walz departure from the Minnesota governor’s office would dictate everything. If Walz becomes VP or otherwise resigns, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan would become Minnesota’s next governor and the first Native American woman to serve as governor in the country. Under the line of succession, the Minnesota Senate president moves up, which is currently DFL Sen. Bobby Joe Champion of Minneapolis. Whether or not he gets the job depends on a lot of factors, including which party controls the Senate when Walz submits his resignation. Read the full breakdown by Ellie and Brian here.

Minnesota’s primary is closing in. Clay Masters reported on the 5th Congressional District rematch between Rep. Ilhan Omar and former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels. It’s not shaping up in the same fashion as other races involving members of “the Squad.” Omar has a big fundraising advantage and has consolidated support among many top Democrats; Samuels is trying to put the focus on the incumbent’s attention-getting and often controversial comments.

Clay was also on scene at FarmFest yesterday, his inaugural trip to the agriculture expo in southwestern Minnesota. He’ll be out there again today as the U.S. Senate candidates take the stage in the event’s famous cattle-call forums — meaning all candidates of all parties are on at once. Watch for his report tomorrow.