Gov. Ron DeSantis wasted no time Tuesday morning after the news broke that Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, selected Tim Walz as her running mate.
“Harris-Walz: most left-wing ticket in American history,” Florida’s Republican governor wrote on social media about Minnesota’s Democratic governor.
“Walz is an unbridled leftist,” DeSantis added in a subsequent post an hour later.
He wasn’t the only Republican who rushed online to offer a similar, if predictable, message.
“Harris-Walz is the most leftist ticket in American history,” wrote U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez, the Miami-Dade County Republican.
“Harris/Walz is the most radical ticket in U.S. history,” declared U.S. Sen Rick Scott, R-Fla. “They are hellbent on bringing California socialism to every state, and we’re ready to fight like hell to stop them.”
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Broward, a former chair of the Democratic National Committee, said, “This smart, big-hearted warrior for American families and values will be an amazing VP for Madame President @KamalaHarris.”
She also posted pictures. One was of Wasserman Schultz, Walz and Jeff Soth, legislative director for the International Union of Operating Engineers, in front of a large union logo. “In Congress, we stood side-by-side in hard fights for our veterans. As @GovTimWalz, we were arm-in-arm with union sisters and brothers.” Another showed Walz, Wasserman Schultz and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a Palm Beach County Democrat whose district includes Trump’s home at his Mar-a-Lago Club and Resort, said she was “Thrilled with @VP’s choice of @GovTimWalz! He’s a dad, a teacher, a coach, a veteran, and a dedicated Governor of Minnesota. All around great guy. I’m proud to have served with him in Congress.”
U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, a Democrat who represents South Broward and Miami-Dade County, posted that Walz “is a capable, honest, and tested leader. I can’t wait for the American people to learn how he is a champion for all Americans.”
Former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, who is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Scott in November, praised Walz. “A former high school teacher who served in the National Guard is our candidate for VP of the United States. If that’s not a testament to the American Dream, I don’t know what is. Together, we’re going to protect the freedoms and opportunities our working class relies on.”
And former U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Orlando, called Walz a “strong and wise choice. A true public servant from a school teacher, member of Congress, chair for Veterans Affairs, Governor, and national guardsman for over two decades. Congratulations to a former colleague. Now, Harris-Walz, let’s get it done!”
DeSantis, who unsuccessfully sought the Republican presidential nomination this year, took several shots at Minnesota under Walz’s leadership in his social media commentaries.
“Minnesota was ground zero for the BLM riots of 2020,” he wrote, claiming that Walz “sat by and let Minneapolis burn.”
In another post, DeSantis wrote that in 2021 “Minnesotans were roughly five times more likely to move to Florida than vice versa,” he wrote, asserting that they “were fleeing a state that, under Gov. Tim Walz, turned its back on law and order, increased taxes, and imposed unscientific coronavirus restrictions, harming children and destroying businesses.”
DeSantis also attempted to link Walz to U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, who is a member of the Squad of progressive members of Congress. DeSantis — who rose to prominence in national Republican circles by his heavy emphasis on promoting conservative culture war issues — termed Walz an “Ilhan Omar-style Democrat that puts ideology above all else.”
Later Tuesday, DeSantis repeated and amplified his comments before television cameras.
He held a briefing in Steinhatchee, Fla., near where Hurricane Debby made landfall on Monday to talk about the storm and its aftermath. After speaking about the storm, but before taking questions about it, he turned to politics.
“We do not need an America that represents the failed policies of San Francisco or the failed policies of Minneapolis. We do not need to see poop on the street and cities burning down. That is not a prescription for America to work its way back,” DeSantis said.
That’s a reference to Harris’ earlier career as a prosecutor. She was San Francisco district attorney from 2004 to 2010.
DeSantis said that Walz “sat back and let happen” the “BLM riots” and said Minneapolis “has been gutted as a result of those riots.”
What DeSantis referred to on social media and before the cameras as “BLM riots” occurred after a white police officer killed George Floyd, who was Black, by kneeling on his neck. Rioting and looting caused damage in part of the city. After local officials were unable to contain the situation, Walz called up the National Guard.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Tuesday that Walz was recently asked about his response to criticisms of the way he handled the 2020 civil unrest. “When you’re serving in the moment on these things, I think on anything, you go back and look,” Walz said, according to the Star Tribune. “Decisions were made in a situation that is what it is, and I said we believed we tried to do the best that we can in each of those.”
Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Mastodon.
