Tim Walz, Israel, and the Jewish community

About Tim Walz: Governor Tim Walz, born in rural Nebraska, was elected Minnesota Governor in 2018 and is currently serving his second term, having previously served six terms in Congress. He has a strong record of supporting Israel, opposing antisemitism, and working to address the issues that Jewish voters prioritize. As governor, Walz compiled a long list of successes that include strengthened voting rights, cut taxes for the middle class, lowered the cost of insulin, expanded paid leave for MN workers, protected reproductive freedom, making Minnesota the first state to codify abortion rights since Roe v Wade was overturned, and provided universal free school meals for students. Walz served in the National Guard and taught high school, including Holocaust education, before being elected to Congress.

Supporting Israel: 

• Governor Walz was and is steadfast in his support of Israel on and since October 7, just as he has been supportive of Israel throughout his political career, including 12 years in Congress. On October 7, he swiftly condemned Hamas’s attack, stating “If you did not find moral clarity on Saturday morning, and you find yourself waiting to think about what you needed to say, you need to reevaluate where you’re at.”
• He supported President Biden’s actions after October 7 and was clear in his belief that “we cannot let terrorists like Hamas win.”
• Following the October 7 terror attack, Walz ordered all flags at Minnesota state buildings be flown at half-staff to honor the victims of the attack. He joined the Minnesota Jewish community at a solidarity event and in a statement emphasized that “The United States and Israel are united by a shared commitment to democracy, economic prosperity, and regional security.”
• Walz said on June 2, 2024, “I see people debating something that I don’t feel is debatable here. The ability of Jewish people to self-determine themselves is foundational to everything […] and the failure to recognize the state of Israel is taking away that self-determination. So it is antisemitic, that is a statement that is fact.”
• In Congress, Walz voted in favor of aid to Israel at every turn and supported efforts to strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. Throughout his 12-year career in Congress, Walz voted in favor of Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas, to expand the strategic partnership between Israel and the U.S., and to provide aid for Israel’s defense systems. 
• Walz participated in a congressional delegation trip to Israel, the West Bank, Syria, and Turkey in an effort to engage with regional leaders and advance peace efforts. 
• In 2010, Walz spoke of the importance of supporting Israel at an AIPAC conference, saying that “Israel is our truest and closest ally in the region, with a commitment to values of personal freedoms and liberties”

Combating Antisemitism and Hate: 

• Walz has a long-standing relationship with his Jewish constituents and is committed to ensuring the safety of the Jewish and Israeli communities at home and abroad. He proclaimed Commitment to Combat Antisemitism and Hatred Day in 2019, recognizing the one year anniversary of the deadly attack at the Tree of Life synagogue. 
• Walz has repeatedly condemned acts of antisemitism around the country, stating as governor that “Minnesota stands in solidarity with our Jewish friends, neighbors, and loved ones.” 
• When campus protests broke out, Walz supported Jewish students: “I think when Jewish students are telling us they feel unsafe in that, we need to believe them, and I do believe them”  
• Walz wrote his master’s thesis on Holocaust education. Long before it was “fashionable” to embrace the issue, Walz chose to focus on Holocaust education,  understanding the importance of educating young people about the Shoah.  
• Walz became a leader in Holocaust education, dating back to his time as a social studies teacher in Mankato, MN. Walz advocated for strengthened Holocaust education programs in Minnesota schools and signed legislation mandating the teaching of the Holocaust. He stood up for Jewish communities when his 2022 Republican opponent compared public health policies to the Holocaust, calling the comparisons “hurtful and dangerous.”