Walz Got Minnesota to Divest from Russia

Vice President Kamala Harris – the current Democratic nominee for president – announced her selection for running mate/successor today: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. The deep-dive on Walz’s tenure as Governor is well under way. However, there is one issue where he has been exceptional – especially for a Governor: Ukraine’s fight for survival. He is already a marked contrast to the fellow Donald Trump chose to be VP.

There isn’t very much a governor can do regarding foreign policy (for good reason). That said, there are actions they can take, and Walz took them. Within two weeks of Russia’s 2022 invasion, Walz made his first move (Minneapolis Star-Tribune).

Gov. Tim Walz is directing more than two dozen state agencies to terminate any contracts with Russian entities, as states across the nation join the federal government in imposing sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

Through an executive order issued Friday, the governor also asked his cabinet to refrain from entering into contracts with Russian entities to “ensure that our state does not aid the Russian government’s aggression against Ukraine.”

“Minnesota stands firmly with Ukraine and strongly condemns the Russian government’s actions,” Walz said in a statement. “I encourage other individuals, companies and organizations to stand with their Ukrainian neighbors and end support to Russian entities.”

He wasn’t done. Less than a month afterwards, he signed a bill that not only codified his previous actions but also ordered the state to fully divest from Russia – and its puppet state Belarus (CBS News).

Over the next several months, the bill will direct the State Board of Investment to divest Minnesota’s pension funds from Russia, where holdings were worth $53 million prior to the attack, according to recent estimates. State investments must also end in Belarus.”Today, I was proud to sign this bipartisan bill into law to help ensure that our state does not aid the Russian government’s illegal aggression against Ukraine,” Walz said on Friday. “Ukrainians are our friends, family, and neighbors and we continue to stand firmly with our Ukrainian community here in Minnesota and abroad.

While Ukraine hasn’t been the focus for the presidential campaign (outside of this corner), it is arguably the best way for the Democrats to peel-off non-Trumpified Republicans. Democrats are united in support of Ukraine, while Republicans are split down the middle. Even those deep into Trumpworld are breaking ranks on this (The Bulwark).

By selecting Walz, Harris is putting her best foot forward to pro-Ukraine Republicans and Independents. She is, in effect, telling them that when it comes to supporting Ukraine and to opposing Russia’s invasion, the Democrats mean it.