Tim Walz casts his ballot early with family in St. Paul
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Tim Walz cast his ballot with his family on Wednesday morning in St. Paul.
The Democratic vice presidential candidate was joined by his wife Gwen Walz and his son Gus Walz. Gus Walz recently turned 18, and it was his first time voting.
"We're excited about it," Tim Walz said when asked how he was feeling about Gus casting his ballot. "He's looking for that 'I voted' sticker."
Tim Walz said he voted for Vice President Kamala Harris as well as Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Betty McCollum as an "opportunity to turn the page on the chaos of Donald Trump."
When asked about how he voted in a controversial St. Paul child care ballot measure — which if passed would permit the city to levy property taxes to subsidize child care costs — Walz said he "took [his] advice from Mayor Carter."
Carter has opposed the measure, arguing that only a small fraction of low-income children will benefit, and has said city staff do not have the infrastructure to take on such a program. He vetoed the initial resolution, but the city council overrode his decision, placing the question on the ballot.
Speaking briefly to reporters afterward, and sporting a red "I voted" sticker on his lapel, Walz called the election "a chance to turn the page on the chaos of Donald Trump, and a new way forward."
Walz thanked the former president's longest-serving chief of staff, retired Gen. John Kelly, for "showing the courage to come forward" and warn the world about Trump's "descention into madness." Kelly's comments came in interviews published Tuesday in The New York Times and The Atlantic.
"Look, Donald Trump made it very clear that this is an election about Donald Trump taking full control of the military to use against his political enemies, taking full control of the Department of Justice to prosecute those who disagree with him, taking full control of the media on what is told and what is told to the American public," Walz said.
Walz also said he had "nothing to say" about reports that he was the target of Russian disinformation efforts but added that "it's very clear that" Russian President Vladimir "Putin wants Donald Trump to win; Donald Trump wants Putin to win."
Early voting in the general election is underway and will continue until Monday, Nov. 4, the day before the election. In-person voting locations can be found on the Minnesota secretary of state's website. You can also vote by mail using an absentee ballot, as long as it is received by Election Day.
