Lucas Franco, Research Manager of Great Lakes Regional Organizing Committee for LIUNA Minnesota and North Dakota, appeared on the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and spoke about the decision by Democratic Party Presidential nominee Kamala Harris to select Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her Vice Presidential running mate.
Franco has known Walz since 2020 and discussed his background. Born in Nebraska, Walz spent 24 years in the Army National Guard, used his G.I. Bill to get his teaching degree, was named teacher of the year at the school at the school he taught at, coached football and ran for public office. Franco said Walz first ran for public office because he was discouraged by the way politicians were treating members of the LGBTQ community and veterans.
Walz won a congressional seat in a Republican district in 2006 and held that seat until 2018, when he ran for governor. As governor, Franco said Walz invested in Minnesota workers and helped to bring back farm laborers into the Democratic Party. He worked to help farmers by protecting them from big monopolies that were guilty of undercutting grain prices.
Since Walz became governor, Minnesota has prioritized workers and he has been a champion of labor, Franco said. Wins have come with legislation such as paid family medical leave, reproductive rights protections, 100 percent carbon-free energy by 2040, affordable housing, wage theft protection and several large infrastructure bills. Franco thinks Walz will be able to communicate effectively with voters and explain common-sense policy.
To learn more about Walz, listen to the podcast.