Tim Walz Archives - The Virginia Star

Parents Sue Minnesota Government for Barring Colleges with ‘Faith Statements’ from State Funding Program

May 26, 2023 Virginia Star Staff

A group of parents in Minnesota filed a lawsuit against Democratic Gov. Tim Walz Wednesday over a new law amending the Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) program to prohibit granting funds to schools that require a “faith statement.”

Walz signed a $72 billion budget Wednesday that included an amendment to the PSEO program, barring students who wish to attend a school requiring a “faith statement” from using funds from the program, according to the budget. Several parents filed a lawsuit later that day with Becket Law against the governor, state Commissioner Of Education Willie Jett and the state Department of Education (DOE) over the new rule, arguing that it unfairly discriminates against their children who wish to attend Christian colleges.

Minnesota Democrats Celebrate New Law Enshrining Abortion at Anytime During Pregnancy

February 2, 2023February 1, 2023 Susan Berry, PhD

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) signed legislation Tuesday that has been condemned by the pro-life community as the most extreme abortion measure in the nation, one that creates a “fundamental right” to abortion at any time during pregnancy, and denies parents the right to know if their minor daughter undergoes an abortion.

Walz signed the Protect Reproductive Options (PRO) Act to enshrine in state statute a “fundamental right” to abortion, without any restrictions, and to contraception, sterilization, fertility treatment.

Democratic Governor’s Group Pledges $75 Million to Reelect Seven Governors

May 8, 2022May 7, 2022 The Center Square

The Democratic Governors Association on Wednesday pledged $75 million for ad buys on behalf of reelection efforts for seven Democrat incumbent governors.

Tony Evers’ reelection campaign gained $21 million in Wisconsin. The group is also promising to spend $2.5 million to reelect New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham; $4.5 million to reelect Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz; $5 million to reelect Colorado Gov. Jared Polis; $5 million to reelect Maine Gov. Janet Mills; $10 million to reelect Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak; and $23 million to reelect Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

Prior to Youth Sports Pause, Minnesota State Officials Admitted to Lack of Evidence, Emails Suggest

April 28, 2021April 27, 2021 Virginia Star Staff

In the weeks leading up to Gov. Tim Walz’s “pause” on youth sports, state officials were privately scrambling for evidence to support the restrictions, at times admitting that “there isn’t much,” emails released Monday reveal.

“Here’s the way it should work: There is data, then there is a decision, then there is communication,” Sen. Michelle Benson, R-Ham Lake, explained at a Monday Senate hearing. “It’s not, ‘We need a message. Go find me the data that matches it.’”

Benson and her Republican colleagues published a trove of emails between state health officials and members of Gov. Walz’s staff ahead of Monday’s informational hearing.

Northam Vows to Count Every Ballot – the Fraudulent Ones, Too

October 1, 2020September 30, 2020 Eric Burk

Governor Ralph Northam joined 10 other Democratic governors issuing a joint statement on Wednesday defending American democracy, vowing that every valid ballot will be counted in the election.

The statement comes after a contentious debate where President Trump expressed skepticism of mail voting. Trump also called on his backers to scrutinize voting procedures at the polls, which critics said could cross into voter intimidation. Without mentioning Trump by name, the governors noted his refusal last week to commit to a peaceful transition of power.

A City in Ruins: Three Nights of Riots Leave South Minneapolis Looking Like War Zone

May 30, 2020May 30, 2020 Anthony Gockowski

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota – Three consecutive nights of rioting in response to the alleged murder of an unarmed black man at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer have left stretches of the city in ruins, producing scenes most accurately described as a war zone.

Officer Derek Chauvin, the man filmed pressing his knee into the neck of a handcuffed George Floyd, was arrested Friday on charges of murder and manslaughter. He and three colleagues involved in the incident were fired from the Minneapolis Police Department Tuesday.

Analysis: Minnesota Has Highest Percent of COVID-19 Deaths in Long-Term Care Facilities in the Nation

May 18, 2020May 17, 2020 Virginia Star Staff

About 81.7 percent of Minnesota’s COVID-19 deaths were in nursing homes and residential care communities, the highest percentage state in the nation that reports such data.

That’s according to data from The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP), a Texas-based nonprofit think tank.

The Star Trib Has Only Endorsed One Republican Gubernatorial Candidate In 30 Years

October 30, 2018October 30, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

The Star Tribune, Minnesota’s leading news source, has only endorsed one Republican for governor during the state’s last eight gubernatorial elections. Apart from its 1994 endorsement of Republican Arne Carlson, The Star Tribune has otherwise supported six Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party candidates, and one Independence Party candidate since 1990. In order,…

Minnesota Sheriff Debunks Tim Walz’s Sanctuary State Arguments

October 29, 2018October 29, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

A group of prominent Minnesota Republicans visited a local ICE detention center to vocalize their support for the country’s federal immigration laws, but the real star of the show was the local sheriff in attendance. Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson, along with Republican attorney general candidate Doug Wardlow and Congressional…

Tim Walz Flip-Flops On $15 Minimum Wage Proposal

October 26, 2018October 26, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tim Walz spent Wednesday clarifying his stance on a $15 minimum wage hike, but in doing so seemed to only complicate his position on the issue. Speaking alongside a cohort of Minnesota mayors, Walz called his previous support of a statewide $15 minimum wage “aspirational” in response…

POLL: Housley, Johnson Within Three Points, Dems Less Favorable Than Republicans

October 21, 2018October 21, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

A new poll shows that Republican Karin Housley is within three points of incumbent Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) who is running in her first election since replacing Al Franken. According to Change Research, 43 percent of likely voters support Housley in the special election while 46 percent said they support…

Minnesota Ranked As the Least Tax-Friendly State In the Country

October 16, 2018October 15, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota was recently ranked as the least tax-friendly state in the country, beating out both California and New York for the top spot on the list. According to Kiplinger, a D.C.-based financial outlet, Minnesota’s “income tax rate of 5.35 percent” earned it the title of “least tax-friendly” state on the…

Rubio to Campaign for Johnson in Final Push Before Election

October 15, 2018October 14, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

With Election Day closing in, Republican Jeff Johnson is enlisting Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) to hit the campaign trail for him in his bid for Minnesota governor. Rubio enjoys relative popularity among Minnesota voters and won the state Republican caucus in his 2016 presidential campaign, making him a safe choice…

Walz and Johnson Lay Out ‘Opposite’ Visions for State in Greater Minnesota Debate

October 11, 2018October 11, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

With election day on the horizon, Minnesota’s gubernatorial candidates came out swinging during a Tuesday night “Greater Minnesota Debate” in Willmar to discuss the issues affecting rural Minnesotans, such as agricultural regulations and refugee resettlement. Republican Jeff Johnson started the debate by criticizing opponent Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN-01) for voting…

Walz Doubles Down on Declaring Minnesota a ‘Sanctuary State’

October 6, 2018October 6, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tim Walz is doubling down on his plan to transform Minnesota into a “sanctuary state,” saying his proposal would actually make the state “safer.” In his first ad of the campaign, Republican candidate Jeff Johnson attacked Walz for his progressive stance on immigration, which would make Minnesota…

Obama Snubs Ellison and Omar In Latest Round of Endorsements

October 3, 2018October 2, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

President Barack Obama endorsed a slate of candidates for Minnesota’s statewide elections Monday, but some high-profile Democrats were conspicuously absent from his list. Obama’s list of endorsements spanned 22 states and more than 100 candidates running for state and federal office, including gubernatorial candidates, their running mates, attorney generals, and…

Ellison Calls for House Ethics Investigation In Response to Abuse Allegations Against Him

September 27, 2018September 26, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN-03) has requested a House Ethics Committee investigation into the domestic-abuse allegations made against him by ex-girlfriend Karen Monahan. In August, Monahan accused the congressman of forcibly dragging her from a bed, and continues to slowly release text messages and medical records supporting her claims. Ellison has…

Walz and Johnson Release First Ads of the Campaign

September 26, 2018September 25, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota gubernatorial candidates Tim Walz and Jeff Johnson released their first ads of the campaign Tuesday after recovering from an expensive primary. Minnesota’s ad wars have been unusually toxic during this election cycle, particularly in Minnesota’s Third and Eighth Congressional Districts where the Republican-backed Congressional Leadership Fund is targeting Democratic…

Polls Continue to Show Minnesotans Agree With Jeff Johnson on Immigration Policy

September 24, 2018September 23, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota gubernatorial candidates Tim Walz and Jeff Johnson have very different visions on immigration policy for the state, but poll after poll shows that Minnesotans tend to agree with the Republican on the issue. Walz, on the one hand, supports sanctuary-state policies and wants to limit local authorities from cooperating…

Tim Walz Has Change of Heart on Gas Tax After Poll Shows Minnesotans Disagree With Him

September 23, 2018September 22, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota Democrat gubernatorial nominee Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) is walking back a promise to raise the gas tax in the state after a new poll shows that a majority of Minnesotans disagree with the proposal. According to a recent KSTP and Survey USA poll of likely Minnesota voters, 52 percent…

Walz and Johnson Battle Over School Choice, Achievement Gap in Wednesday Debate

September 20, 2018September 20, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota gubernatorial candidates Jeff Johnson and Tim Walz squared off in a debate Wednesday morning at the TwinWest Chamber of Commerce to discuss workforce issues. The candidates remained civil throughout the discussion, but things grew noticeably heated when Minnesota’s achievement gap was mentioned, with the state consistently ranking among the…

Jeff Johnson Asks Tim Walz to Clarify Impact of His Plan to Implement a Single-Payer System in Minnesota

September 19, 2018September 18, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

With early voting set to begin Friday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson is calling on Democrat Tim Walz to clarify his stance on implementing a single-payer health care system in Minnesota. In a Tuesday press release, Johnson’s campaign states that while several media outlets have reported that Walz supports a…

Poll Shows Large Number of ‘Undecided’ Voters Will Put Minnesota Gubernatorial Race in the Hands of ‘Independents’

September 18, 2018September 17, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

A new poll shows Democrat Tim Walz leading Republican Jeff Johnson in Minnesota’s gubernatorial race, though both candidates are trying to win over a large percentage of undecided voters. According to a new MPR News and Star Tribune poll, 45 percent of likely voters favor Walz, while 36 percent said…

Polls Show Voters Agree With GOP’s Johnson On Key Issues, But Democrat Walz Holds Small Lead in Governor’s Race

September 15, 2018September 14, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Two new polls released this week show that Democrat Tim Walz has a slight edge over Republican Jeff Johnson in the race for Minnesota’s governor. The first poll, conducted by KSTP and Survey USA, reveals that 47 percent of likely voters back Walz, while 40 percent support Johnson, and 10…

Minnesota Candidates Break from the Campaign Trail to Commemorate 9/11

September 12, 2018September 11, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Minnesota’s political candidates took a brief pause from the campaign trail Tuesday morning to commemorate the seventeenth anniversary of 9/11. “Today, we both mourn and remember the tragedy of September 11. We’re reminded of those who gave everything serving and sacrificing for others. 17 years later, we remember those highest…

Polls Show Tight Races in Minnesota’s High-Stakes Elections

September 11, 2018September 15, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

A new poll shows that Minnesota Democrats are fighting to hang on to the state’s Eighth Congressional District, which has leaned blue for nearly 70 years. The new poll comes out of The New York Times’ partnership with Siena College, which has a goal of polling “dozens of the most…

EXCLUSIVE: MyPillow’s Mike Lindell Opens Up About Trump, Crack, ‘Evil’ Ellison, and More

September 11, 2018September 10, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Mike Lindell, founder and CEO of MyPillow, first met President Donald Trump the summer before the 2016 election. “When I met him, I go: ‘Wow, there’s nobody on this planet I’d rather have be my president than Donald Trump,’” he told The Minnesota Sun. Lindell was launched into the political…

Democrat Tim Walz Wants to Offer Two Years of Free College If Elected Minnesota’s Governor

September 9, 2018September 7, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tim Walz wants to provide 2 years of tuition-free college to Minnesota students if elected to become the state’s next governor. According to his campaign website, Walz wants to give “every Minnesotan a shot at higher education,” saying his administration would offer “2 years” of “tuition-free education…

Attack Ad Falsely Claims That Jeff Johnson Wants to End Coverage for Pre-Existing Conditions

September 7, 2018September 7, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

A new attack produced by Alliance for a Better Minnesota (ABM) falsely claims that Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson’s would allow “insurance companies” to “deny coverage for those with pre-existing conditions.” “300,000 Minnesotans will lose their health insurance under Jeff Johnson, and insurance companies could deny coverage for those with…

Minnesota Gubernatorial Candidates Face Off in Heated Debate at State Fair

September 5, 2018September 5, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Gubernatorial candidates Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN-01) and Republican Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson squared off at the Minnesota State Fair Friday in their most heated debate yet. In front of a large crowd at the St. Paul fairgrounds, the two typically cordial candidates hurled an atypical number of accusations at…

Minneapolis Uses Backdoor Tactic to Transform Area Into a Sanctuary City

September 4, 2018September 3, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

A new “municipal ID” program will effectively transform Minneapolis into a sanctuary city as early as 2019 in order to “further advance the city’s racial equity goals.” According to the city’s website, the “municipal identification card” will be available to all “residents ages 14 and up” regardless of “immigration status,…

Democrat Congressional Candidate in Minnesota Supports Making It A Sanctuary State

August 27, 2018August 26, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

In a heated first debate, incumbent Rep. Erik Paulsen (R-MN-03) squared off against his Democratic challenger Dean Phillips in their battle for Minnesota’s Third Congressional District. Although Paulsen has safely held the seat since 2009, Minnesota’s Democractic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party is hopeful that their candidate can pull off an upset, since…

Minnesota Politicians Invade State Fair, But Voters Want to Leave Politics At Home

August 25, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

Each year, the Minnesota State Fair looks more and more like a political convention, but this year fair-goers seem to have had enough of the politicization of the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Both major parties, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party and the state GOP, have booths at the fair with their respective…

Republican Jeff Johnson Closing In On Tim Walz In Minnesota Governor’s Race

August 24, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

The latest poll out of Suffolk University shows that Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson (pictured, left) trails his opponent Rep. Tim Walz (pictured, right) by only five points in the race for Minnesota’ governorship. The poll, conducted between August 17 and August 20, surveyed 500 Minnesotans on their opinions of…

Democrat Congressional Candidate Dean Phillips Supports Making Minnesota A Sanctuary State

August 23, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

In a heated first debate, incumbent Rep. Erik Paulsen squared off against his Democratic challenger Dean Phillips in their battle for Minnesota’s Third Congressional District. Although Paulsen has safely held the seat since 2009, Minnesota’s Democractic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party is hopeful that their candidate can pull off an upset, since the…

Johnson and Walz Spar Over Taxes, Refugee Resettlement In First Minnesota Gubernatorial Debates

August 22, 2018August 21, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

It’s been just one week since Rep. Tim Walz and Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson won their respective primaries, but the two are already hitting the debate circuit in their race for Minnesota’s governor seat. On Friday, the two went head-to-head in front of a live audience in Nisswa, Minn.,…

In Upset Over Pawlenty, Johnson Will Face Off Against Dem Walz in Minnesota Gubernatorial Race

August 18, 2018August 17, 2018 Anthony Gockowski

After a shocking upset over former Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Republican nominee Jeff Johnson is set to face off against Rep. Tim Walz in the Minnesota gubernatorial contest. Pawlenty, the last Republican to occupy the Governor’s mansion, failed to secure the nomination from the state party, but vastly outspent the Hennepin…