Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made a visit to Mankato for a crosstown rivalry football game between Mankato East High School and Mankato West High School. At the game, he walked down the 50-yard line accompanied by the captains of Mankato West, where he was introduced as a former Mankato West defensive coordinator and long-time geography teacher. The crowd reacted with mild applause, and after the coin toss, Walz took selfies and signed autographs alongside his mother, Darlene Walz. He cheered for Mankato West throughout the game, which they ended up winning 28-7.
Walz’s visit to Mankato marked his first return to the town since joining the Democratic presidential ticket. He and his wife Gwen had moved to Mankato in 1996 where they both taught at Mankato West before Walz was elected to Congress in 2006. Since being named the Democratic vice presidential nominee, the campaign has highlighted his tenure at Mankato West as a defining aspect of his background. Vice President Kamala Harris often refers to him as “Coach Walz,” a title now seen on campaign signs at Walz’s rallies.
In addition to attending the football game, Walz also marked the opening of pheasant hunting season by going on a hunt the next day. Despite not having the chance to fire his shotgun, he talked about why he bought it for trap shooting. His return to Minnesota is part of the campaign’s effort to win over male voters in Midwestern battleground states. Recent interviews with local outlets and a sit-down interview with former NFL star Michael Strahan on ABC’s “Good Morning America” were also part of the push to engage persuadable male voters.
Walz stated that the campaign is working to close the gap in support among male voters with messaging tailored toward economic and social issues. This effort is particularly important as a Pew Research Center survey found that 51% of registered male voters support former President Donald Trump, while 43% support Harris. Despite the campaign’s efforts, Walz has faced increased scrutiny for making false statements before and after joining the Harris campaign, including a false claim about his presence in China during the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.
During his visit to Mankato, Walz was warmly received by locals, including former students and players who reminisced about his time as a teacher and coach. They described him as a high-energy teacher who sought meaningful connections with students, with one former student joking that he never sat behind his desk. Before the football game, Walz greeted players as they left for the stadium and spoke to old colleagues at Mankato West, receiving a warm welcome from the school’s principal and former neighbor. Overall, his return to Mankato was a brief respite from the challenges of the campaign and an opportunity to reconnect with his roots.
