Tim Walz Gets Minnesota Homecoming at State Fair

ST. PAUL, Minn. — For Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, August has been a dizzying ascent to the highest levels of politics. Since being tapped as Kamala Harris’ vice presidential running mate, he has been a special guest at lavish private fundraisers, jetted to more than a dozen states and headlined the Democratic convention in Chicago last night, with thousands in the arena hanging on his every word.

On Sunday, Walz returned to more familiar territory: the Minnesota State Fair.

He munched on a pork chop on a stick. He admired the buttery sculptures of dairy princesses. He passed around ice cream at the Dairy Goodness counter and waved to the crowd eager to catch a glimpse—or take a selfie—of the governor, who for the first time was able to ditch his formal suit and tie for a more comfortable T-shirt and Carhartt pants.

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This could have been just another of Walz’s many state fair appearances over the years, where he proved himself to be an approachable Midwestern dad by wearing corn dog socks and riding the nausea-inducing Slingshot ride with his daughter, Hope Walz.

Except for the Secret Service. And the motorcade that ferried him to and from the fair. And the officers stationed on the roof of the dairy building to get a bird’s-eye view of the crowd clamoring to see the man who, come November, has a chance to skyrocket from obscure Midwestern governor to vice president.

Tim Walz, holding a vanilla milkshake in his hands, admitted that everything was different this year.

“A little more disruption,” he told reporters, noting that he had to cut short his usual 12 days of performances. “But it’s exciting — I think people see that we can talk about Minnesota across the country.”

Indeed. Walz’s supporters were bursting at the seams, one after another reflecting Minnesota pride as they waited to greet the governor with the enthusiasm of concertgoers meeting their favorite rock star. People from all 50 states and 36 countries bought tickets to this year’s fair, according to Keri Huber, the fair’s archivist. Many of them grew up in Minnesota and return home every year for what is affectionately called the Great Minnesota Get Together.

“We’ve never had a politician this big,” Brittney Arnold, manager of the Dairy Goodness Bar and All You Can Drink Milk Stand, said before Walz appeared behind the ice cream counter. She explained: Walz came as governor, but it wasn’t like that. “We’re really excited to showcase dairy,” she said.

Leslie Beller of Minneapolis, her husband, Tyler, and their three children were standing in line when Walz started serving ice cream.

“I’m really proud that Tim is representing our state,” Beller said as her daughter Charlotte licked her vanilla cone. “He’s such a real person, he’s just one of us.”

The person who gave you the ice cream, Beller told Charlotte, “is making sure you get your school meals.” (Last year, Walz signed a law making school meals universally free.)

“He’s the best choice that could have been made, but I still need to see a lot more,” Beller added. “I want him to move to the left, not capitulate to the right.”

Down the street, Gwen Walz, the governor’s wife, and Hope Walz worked at one of the fair’s most iconic booths: Sweet Martha’s, home of warm chocolate chip cookies. They donned Sweet Martha’s hats and washed their hands at the behest of Martha Rossini—yes, Sweet Martha herself.

The governor’s wife has been coming to the state fair since she was a little girl, often with her grandparents, she said, and she and Tim Walz went every day when he was running for state and governor. There was more freedom to move around then, she said.

She described this year’s trip as “a more narrow experience.”

“I’m sticking with my loyal ones,” she said behind a tray of cookies. “I’ve volunteered at Sweet Martha’s before, so I thought, ‘I want to do that this year.’”

Sunday was not as pleasant as it was in Minnesota. Republicans at the state party booth and the nearby “Never Walz” tent — where passersby could spin a wheel filled with various right-wing refrains against the governor, such as “burning Minneapolis” and “stolen courage” — railed against his visit and candidacy.

“We had to wait for his stupid motorcade before we could even get into the state fair,” said Jerrel Flanagan, 52, of Mankato, Minn., where Walz taught social studies and was a football coach decades ago.

“He’s a disgrace to Mankato,” Flanagan said. “He’s ruined everything for Minnesota — taxes are too high.”

Bill Nichol, a volunteer at the Republican Party booth, said he noticed a change in the mood at the fair after the Walz family arrived.

“I can tell you that I saw Democrats today holding their heads a little higher than usual,” he said.

Lisa Hellerud-Recksiedler, a volunteer at the Never Walz booth, which was set up a few years ago, said interest has been particularly strong this year. The booth — sponsored by the conservative group Action 4 Liberty — aims to “spread the word about Tim Walz’s very liberal, harmful policies,” she said.

Even though their governor may become vice president, many Minnesotans who attended the fair on Sunday had a more peculiar concern: Walz, because of his suddenly busier schedule, might not have the opportunity to sample all of his favorite foods at the fair as he usually does.

David Dexheimer, 64, of Minneapolis, said he hopes Walz gets his “must-have” dishes at the fair — everyone has their own personal list, he added. “You To have “You want to eat cottage cheese,” he advised.

Gwen Walz, for her part, said she won’t be able to visit Hamline Dining Hall, the historic food hall, or try the Swedish burger with soda, which she described as meatballs with wild rice, blueberries and sharp cheese.

On Monday, Walz will return to the rough and tumble trail. His campaign said he will meet with union leaders in St. Paul, Minnesota, before flying to Milwaukee.

But at least for one morning he could return to his own territory and enjoy the adoration.

Kevin Vargas was among many attendees who cheered Walz’s candidacy but also accepted with a touch of sadness that a Democratic victory in November would mean a new Minnesota governor.

“This is all bittersweet,” Vargas said. Walz has left a huge mark on Minnesota, he said, “but we’re happy to share it with the rest of the country.”

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