Mike Pence’s organization responds to Walz as Democratic VP pick

Former Vice President Mike Pence’s think tank, Advancing American Freedom, recently released a scathing critique of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s selection as the Democratic Party’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2024 presidential election.

The memo issued by Pence’s policy institute highlighted what they described as Walz’s “radical record” and criticized his handling of various issues during his tenure as governor of Minnesota.

One of the accusations leveled against Walz in the memo was his alleged role in fueling the Black Lives Matter riots that erupted in Minnesota in 2020. The memo claimed that under Walz’s leadership, the state witnessed a 50% increase in homicide rates, leading to Minnesota being dubbed a “murder capital.”

Additionally, Advancing American Freedom accused Walz of cutting funding for pregnant women while advocating for abortion-on-demand and turning Minnesota into a “trans refugee state.” The memo also alleged that Walz had signed legislation permitting children to be separated from their parents if the parents did not support the child’s decision to undergo life-altering surgeries or medical treatments.

Walz’s nomination as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate alongside Vice President Kamala Harris did not come as a surprise, as his name had been circulating as a potential pick following Harris’s advancement to the party’s standard-bearer position.

Tim Walz, a 60-year-old former congressman, is currently serving his second term as governor of Minnesota. Despite the state’s historical allegiance to the Democratic Party in presidential elections, this cycle has seen concerted efforts by the Trump campaign to flip Minnesota into the Republican column.

The memo released by Pence’s think tank echoes several common criticisms levied against Walz, including his approach to the border crisis through sanctuary laws and his treatment of religious institutions during the COVID-19 lockdowns.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has largely remained on the sidelines of the 2024 presidential contest since withdrawing from the race late last year. While he refrained from endorsing his former running mate in the Republican primary, Pence has been vocal about his opposition to the Biden re-election campaign.

Advancing American Freedom, under Pence’s leadership, has launched a “Biden-Harris Accountability Tracker” on their website. The tracker aims to monitor and critique the policies and decisions of the Biden-Harris administration, providing examples of what the think tank perceives as negative outcomes resulting from their actions.