The selection of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) as Vice President Harris’s running mate has reinvigorated interest in his environmental policies, showcasing a sharp contrast to his more centrist stances during his time in the House.
Although Walz’s current climate agenda has garnered praise from environmental advocates, it diverges seriously from his previous record, which included supporting the Keystone XL pipeline and opposing certain Obama-era wetlands protections.
The recent announcement of Walz’s vice presidential pick was celebrated by green groups, highlighting his 2023 achievement of mandating that Minnesota’s electricity be sourced entirely from carbon-free options by the end of the decade. During his term, Walz and the state Legislature successfully passed over 40 climate-focused bills.
The appointment of Tim Walz as Harris’s running mate underscores his shifting stance on environmental issues and his controversial past
Despite a generally progressive voting record in the House, Walz occasionally diverged from party lines on environmental issues. His lifetime environmental score from the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) is 75 percent, compared to Harris’s 90 percent score.
However, Walz’s environmental rating plummeted to 14 percent in 2018, reflecting a stark decline from his previous year’s 97 percent score. This drop was attributed to multiple anti-environment votes, in relation to the predominantly pro-environment votes he cast in earlier years.
Walz’s 2014 vote to approve the Keystone XL pipeline and his 2015 vote to overturn an Obama administration rule expanding Clean Water Act protections were deviations from his current climate positions. His tenure as governor has also seen controversial decisions, such as endorsing the Line 3 pipeline project, which faced serious opposition from local activists and tribal groups.
Walz’s evolving stance on climate issues mirrors broader shifts, similar to those seen in Harris’s own policy adjustments from her 2020 presidential campaign to her 2024 bid. Kathryn Hoffman from the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy believes Walz has matured into a climate advocate over time, though his earlier record contrasts with his current position. Cassidy DePaola of Fossil Free Media views Walz’s journey as a compelling political narrative, emphasizing his growing engagement with climate issues as he confronted firsthand impacts in his community.
