Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota recently spoke out against GOP leaders' attempts to portray Gov. Tim Walz as a liberal figure. In a Wednesday interview, Smith dismissed former President Donald Trump's characterization of Walz as 'very liberal,' calling it 'laughable.'
Smith emphasized that Walz was elected to represent a conservative-leaning district, highlighting his roots in a farming rural community. She pointed out that Walz's election to Congress in 2006 was considered one of the biggest conservative upsets of that election cycle.
Furthermore, Smith noted that Walz's broad appeal was evident through his endorsement from West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a former Democrat turned independent centrist.
Addressing the criticism surrounding the unrest in Minneapolis following the tragic death of George Floyd, Smith defended Walz's actions. She praised Walz for swiftly deploying the Minnesota National Guard to restore peace in the streets of Minneapolis amidst the turmoil.
It is important to highlight that Gov. Walz, who served in the Army National Guard for 24 years, took proactive measures by activating the Minnesota National Guard on May 28, 2020, more than seven hours before Trump publicly mentioned deploying the Guard himself.