Vice President Kamala Harris has made health care a central focus of the upcoming presidential election by selecting Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Walz, 60, a former high school teacher and football coach, has been a strong advocate for progressive health care policies during his two terms as governor and his tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019. Minnesota, Walz’s home state, is a significant player in the health care sector, hosting the nation’s largest health insurer, UnitedHealth Group, and the esteemed Mayo Clinic.
Walz’s record on health care has become a key point of contention in the election. Republicans are using his past actions to paint the Harris-Walz ticket as extreme, while Democrats argue that Walz’s positions on lowering drug costs and protecting abortion rights align with mainstream values and resonate with undecided voters. Walz’s selection underscores the critical importance of health care and the ongoing national debate over abortion access and rising health care costs.
Walz’s health care positions align closely with Harris’s. He has been a vocal advocate for abortion rights, having signed legislation in Minnesota to protect these rights and recently touring a Planned Parenthood clinic with Harris. He also supports federal legislation to negotiate drug prices for Medicare, a program serving seniors and the disabled. New, lower drug prices resulting from these negotiations are set to take effect in 2026.
As governor, Walz introduced a law in 2020 to cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $35 per month for those in urgent need, a measure later mirrored by President Joe Biden for all Medicare patients. During the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Walz mandated mask-wearing in most indoor public spaces and extended a stay-at-home order, prompting former President Donald Trump to criticize him on social media.
Andy Slavitt, former administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, praised Walz for his practical approach to policy issues. “He’s an independent thinker who cares about people with limited resources,” Slavitt said, highlighting Walz’s focus on practical solutions over ideological rigidity.
Walz has also been a proponent of fertility treatments, sharing his own experiences with in vitro fertilization (IVF). His advocacy for IVF, amid threats from abortion opponents, adds to his political strength by connecting with a broad range of voters.
Republicans in Minnesota argue that Walz’s health care policies could harm the Democratic ticket. They criticize his COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements for state employees, his support for abortion rights legislation, and his endorsement of recreational marijuana and expanded public health coverage for some immigrants.
“Under Gov. Walz, we’ve seen one of the most radical, far-left agendas in the country,” said Mark Johnson, the Republican leader of Minnesota’s state Senate. Johnson accused Walz of steering the state toward government-run health care and imposing restrictive health care mandates.
Tracy Mitchell, a Minnesotan leaning toward former President Trump, said Walz’s selection reinforced her decision to vote for Trump, citing concerns about rising health care costs and Walz’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Democrats, however, are optimistic that a heightened focus on health care will benefit their campaign, especially in swing states where voters are concerned about financial issues. Polls show that health care affordability is a major concern for both Republicans and Democrats, surpassing other issues like illegal immigration and gun violence.
William Pierce, a senior director at APCO Worldwide, noted that Democrats often frame health care as a personal issue, which could give them an edge. The selection of Walz may allow them to emphasize health care more effectively.
On the Republican side, Ohio Senator JD Vance, Walz’s counterpart on the GOP ticket, has less experience with health care but has expressed concerns about rising costs and access barriers. Vance has supported some Affordable Care Act provisions but now aligns his views with Trump, who opposed the ACA.
Vance has supported allowing the federal government to negotiate Medicare drug prices, aligning with a rare point of agreement with Democrats. However, Vance’s positions on abortion are more conservative, which could be exploited by Democrats given the increasing public support for abortion rights since the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Both campaigns are scrutinizing each other’s health care stances. The California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis’ super PAC released an ad accusing Vance of supporting a nationwide abortion ban, while Trump’s campaign has criticized Walz with derogatory labels and ads.
Despite the criticisms, Walz’s nomination has energized Democratic voters concerned about health care. Angel Palm, a life coach for people with disabilities, expressed enthusiasm for Walz’s selection, highlighting the significance of health care in her personal life.
The focus on health care promises to be a defining issue in the election, reflecting the nation’s deep concerns about medical costs and access to care.
