For the first time in 40 years, Minnesota has a central role in a presidential campaign as Gov. Tim Walz runs for vice-president with the Kamala Harris campaign.

It’s bringing our state national attention, just like the Hubert Humphrey years of the 1960s and the Walter Mondale years of the 1970s. They were both successful vice presidents. They each ran for President, Humphrey in 1968 and Mondale in 1984.

I was surprised when I found out that Walz was one of three finalists. Then I was surprised again when he was chosen.

I expected it would go to either Mark Kelly or Josh Shapiro, mainly because they’re both from swing states (Arizona and Pennsylvania). Also Kelly is famous as an astronaut.

Instead of turning to a swing state, Harris opted for the bluest of the blue. Minnesota is the Land of Sky Blue waters in more ways than one.

Our state hasn’t voted for a Republican for President in 52 years, dating back to Nixon in 1972. Prior to that it goes back to the 1950s with Eisenhower. It’s the only state that never voted for Reagan.

I can understand why Harris chose Walz because of what he brings to the campaign. He was both a Congressman from Minnesota and now governor. That means he’s had experience in Washington D.C. as well as a familiarity with serving as the leader of a state.

Another point in his favor is that he’s an educator by profession. Educators usually see the human side of a problem. They consider the effects their decisions will have on people. For example, they’d be unlikely to vote for a balanced budget if it would mean that thousands (or possibly millions) of families would go hungry.

Walz is also rural. Based out of Mankato, he served a rural Congressional district that covered the southern part of Minnesota.

The Democratic party should try to connect with rural voters. Hilary Clinton carried only nine counties in Minnesota in 2016. Biden carried 13 in 2020, picking up several outstate college counties. The Twin Cities, Duluth and Rochester gave them their statewide majorities.

Possibly the greatest gift Walz brings to the Harris campaign is that he’s generally considered a moderate by liberals and middle of the road voters. Conservatives mostly consider him liberal, but they think anyone to the left of Mitt Romney is a liberal.

We need more moderates. We need moderate Democrats and moderate Republicans. We should get back to the days when there was a lot of bi-partisanship, when things weren’t so polarized along party lines.

Walz could help with that. I’m glad he’s running. I’d have said the same thing if Donald Trump would have chosen a Minnesotan as his running mate. I’d have said it’s good for the state.

When a candidate is on the national campaign trail, he or she acts as a home state ambassador. Even those who choose not to vote for them might like them as people.

The 2024 campaign could put Minnesota on plenty of radar screens. It’s possible that at least several talented doctors, professors, public administrators, business executives and others might decide to move here. They might even locate a business or an industry in one of our communities.

Minnesota is a great place. It has a vibrant metropolitan area, lakes, forests, and a farm belt with river valleys. It’s definitely a major league state.

The major league reference is for more than just the Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx. Minnesota is a leader in health care, education, outdoor recreation, manufacturing, mining, agriculture, Great Lakes shipping and much more. We have a lot to offer.

We’ll know in a few weeks if we’ll once again have a vice president. Just to have someone on a national ticket is a plus, a definite testimonial to our quality of life.

— Jim Muchlinski is a longtime reporter and contributor the Marshall Independent