Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, is facing scrutiny over his controversial Covid-19 response as he joins Vice President Kamala Harris as her running mate for the upcoming 2024 election. The former president, Trump, has criticized Walz for his far-left policies and his handling of the pandemic.
In April 2020, Walz extended an emergency stay-at-home order, which drew backlash from Trump who called for Minnesota to be liberated. After easing the order, Walz implemented an indoor mask mandate for the state, a move applauded by public health officials but criticized by Republicans.
During a recent rally, Walz took jabs at Trump, highlighting the partisan divide over states’ pandemic response. The issue of stringent masking policies, social distancing rules, and remote learning requirements imposed by Democratic leaders has become a focal point for Republicans, who argue that these measures have negatively impacted children’s mental health and learning.
Despite facing criticism, Walz defended his decisions, stating that his administration considered the unintended consequences of their actions on both health outcomes, social implications, and the economy. However, Republicans have also brought up the anti-racism protests in Minneapolis following George Floyd’s murder, accusing Walz of hesitating to deploy the National Guard, leading to property damage to businesses.
Various analyses have been conducted to evaluate Minnesota’s Covid-19 response, with mixed results. While the state had low coronavirus death rates, it also experienced crowded intensive care units. A conservative think tank assessment gave Minnesota a ‘C’ rating, suggesting that strict shutdown measures did not significantly improve health outcomes.
Despite the controversies surrounding his response to the pandemic, the state’s Supreme Court ruled in favor of Walz, upholding his indoor mask mandate order. As the 2024 election approaches, Walz’s handling of Covid-19 is likely to remain a key issue, with Republicans and Democrats clashing over the best approach to managing the pandemic.