Tim Walz Calls on California Democrats to Reclaim Working-Class Voters

Tim Walz Urges California Democrats to Reclaim Working-Class Voters

ANAHEIM, California — In a fiery address to the California Democratic Party convention, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz called on fellow Democrats to rediscover their fighting spirit for working people. Speaking in former Vice President Kamala Harris’ home state, Walz highlighted the party’s loss in the previous election as a stark indication that their connection with working-class voters had weakened.

“We’ve got to find some goddamn guts to fight for working people,” Walz declared. “The party of the working class lost a big chunk of the working class. That last election was a primal scream on so many fronts.”

Acknowledging the Republican control, Walz admitted, “Some of it is our own doing.” His speech, along with an earlier address by New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, aimed to court party insiders in California, a crucial state for any potential presidential run.

Walz’s appearance in South Carolina, an early primary state, further signaled his ambitions. He acknowledged campaign mistakes during his fall campaign, while Maryland Governor Wes Moore previewed the 2028 presidential primary with a speech in South Carolina.

Despite President Donald Trump’s success in making inroads with labor, not all Democratic leaders agree on the need for a reckoning. Several national unions declined to endorse Harris last year after supporting Joe Biden in the previous cycle.

Walz touted his achievements in Minnesota, including a child tax credit, free school meals, and labor union protections, as a model for the party’s future. He praised union members as the “real VIPs” and drew loud cheers when mentioning Representative Nancy Pelosi. The crowd was more subdued when he thanked Harris, acknowledging her “grace, courage, and patriotic leadership.”

Harris, considering a 2026 gubernatorial bid, did not attend the convention but delivered a pre-recorded video address criticizing the Trump administration’s tariffs and Congress’ cuts to Medi-Cal funding. She did not indicate whether she would run for governor or president in 2028.

Earlier, Booker told the convention, “We are in a spiritual storm,” drawing on his Christian faith to condemn “hypocrites” on the right who claim to be religious but fail to support social programs. His remarks, including a quip about missing the Obama years, received thunderous applause.