Tim Walz Rallies Democrats in Post-2024 Tour: “We’ve Got to Do Better”
Former Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is stepping back into the national spotlight, launching a grassroots tour aimed at revitalizing the Democratic base after the party’s bruising loss in the 2024 presidential election. Speaking before a packed crowd in Rochester, Minnesota on Saturday, Walz reflected on what went wrong, what needs to change, and where the resistance to President Donald Trump’s second term might go next.
A Moment of Reflection—and a Hint at 2028
“I knew it was my job to try and pick off those other swing states, and we didn’t,” Walz told the crowd. “I come back home to lick my wounds and say, goddamn, at least we won here.”
Walz’s remarks were equal parts candid self-assessment and political rallying cry, as he addressed a crowd of 1,500—many of whom remembered him as their congressman before he became governor.
While he hasn’t officially declared a 2028 presidential run, Walz isn’t ruling it out. “I thought it was a flex that I was the poorest person and the only public school teacher to ever run for vice-president of the United States,” he said. “They chose the billionaire. We gotta do better.”
Democratic Resistance Builds Energy
Walz’s event comes amid a surge in Democratic town halls and rallies nationwide. While the former VP candidate’s audience was sizable, even larger crowds have turned out for Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s “Stop Oligarchy” tour, a progressive counterweight to the Trump administration’s sweeping policy changes.
Activists across the country are gathering to push back against budget cuts, civil rights rollbacks, and the dismantling of federal agencies—including the Department of Education, which Walz vowed to fight to protect.
A Fight for the Party’s Future
Attendees pressed Walz on how Democrats can expand the party’s appeal, particularly to young voters, working-class communities, and marginalized groups. Walz called for a “bigger tent” Democratic Party, one that connects with voters on economic justice and civil rights.
“This isn’t about me,” he said. “This is about finding a way to fight smarter, speak clearer, and show people that democracy is still worth it.”
As the Democratic base begins to regroup, Walz’s tour offers one vision of what post-Trump resistance could look like—grounded in community, shaped by hard lessons, and driven by hope for a comeback.
