Formerly amicable professional relationship between Tim Walz and Kristi Noem has transitioned into a frosty state.
Vice Presidential nominee Walz, a favorite among liberal Democrats, contrasts with Governor Noem, once contemplated as a potential VP candidate for ex-President Trump, who thrives in conservative Republican circles. Following Walz's elevation to the Democratic VP nomination, Noem has been criticizing Walz as a "radical" for his handling of "freedom" during the pandemic's peak, which she governs alongside.
However, a decade prior, their relationships in the House of Representatives were vastly different. Walz and Noem, then colleagues, had a friendly rapport, working jointly on bills, taking photos and complimenting each other. In a collaborative prairie lands bill video, they were particularly gracious towards one another.
“It's a smart bill, and I’m grateful to the Congresswoman as we share similar geography and our land is shared by both producers and sportsmen, ensuring that resources are available,” Walz, then a congressman, stated during the video recording on a couch with Noem.
“I enjoy working with Tim because he has a common-sense approach, which I also like,” Noem expressed.
Unlike their past sentiments, Noem's recent comments towards Walz have been harsh.
“Walz is no leader. He’s a radical. I served with him in Congress. He pretended to be moderate, then showed his true extremist colors as soon as he became governor,” Noem wrote on platform X.
During broadcast interviews, Noem further denounced Walz, stating on NewsMax that Harris chose a "radical leftist governor" who believes that socialism is the future for America and placed him on her ticket. On Fox News, Noem continued her criticism, claiming that during the protests following George Floyd's death in 2020, Walz "didn’t take decisive action, didn’t support his cops."
Walz has chosen not to respond to Noem's more recent comments. In a statement, Walz's spokesperson Teddy Tschann said that Walz is eager to work with Republicans to help farmers and veterans.
“Governor Walz regularly collaborated with Republicans in Congress to pass legislation beneficial for veterans and farmers, and he brokered bipartisan deals with a split legislature in Minnesota to reduce taxes and fund schools. He knows how to negotiate without compromising his principles, and he will work with anyone to deliver for the American people,” Tschann said.
Separately, Noem's spokesman Ian Fury, echoed Noem's recent criticisms and criticized Walz's administration as governor of Minnesota.
“Governors are CEOs, and their agendas reflect their priorities. As Governor, Walz’s radical agenda has shown that he consistently tramples on basic freedoms and neglects to safeguard the rights granted to all Americans - while Governor Noem has remained loyal to the U.S. Constitution by allowing individuals to make their own decisions,” Fury said in a statement. “Tim Walz has been an ineffective CEO of Minnesota. He has lost thousands of people and billions in business to other states, including South Dakota, due to his poor leadership.”
Congressional Time
Together, they championed the Protect Our Prairies Act of 2013, a proposal aiming to discourage crop producers from farming protected land. In the video, Walz, as the representative for Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District, and Noem, South Dakota's at-large congresswoman, emphasized the bill's common sense and ease of collaboration between them.
“I enjoy working with Tim because he has such a common-sense approach, which I also like,” Noem says at one point in the video.
At another point, Walz discusses the shared background between him and Noem as it pertains to preserving rural land.
“It’s not theoretical for us. It’s how we grew up. We lived in these towns, and our rural areas are not just undeveloped urban areas. These are unique places to live that people choose to be there, and I think it’s important. I think what Congresswoman Noem and myself are doing is, it’s not a false choice of either or,” Walz said.
The prairie bill became only one of several bills that Noem and Walz would co-sponsor during their time in Congress. Over the course of their tenure, Noem and Walz served as co-sponsors on over 150 bills. What’s more, eight of the bills that Noem introduced were co-sponsored by Walz, and four of the bills that Walz introduced were co-sponsored by Noem, demonstrating that their partnership wasn’t just a one-time thing, though it wasn’t constant collaboration either.
This rapport was especially notable given their contrasting political viewpoints. While in the House, Walz was viewed as a moderate Democrat with a rapport with Republicans. Noem, on the other hand, was making a name for herself as a new-generation conservative warrior.
Their collaboration in Congress seemed natural given their geographical proximity and shared focus on agriculture and rural protections. According to Randolph Briley, a former congressional staffer for Walz,
“South Dakota and southwest Minnesota share some of the best pheasant habitat on the planet. And so we worked a lot on bills that preserved that habitat, or that could potentially preserve that habitat.”
Now, the two individuals appear to be poles apart. Walz's notable accomplishments as a governor, which include an extensive range of social welfare programs, have been criticized by Republicans as overly liberal. Conversely, Noem, upon ascending from the U.S. House to the governorship of South Dakota, has portrayed herself as a conservative crusader.
In the hallowed halls of Congress, payments can yield unexpected friendships or alliances that endure even after the politicians depart Capitol Hill. Obama, for instance, maintained a robust friendship with the late Sen. Coburn of Oklahoma, despite Coburn's penchant for hindering legislation in the Senate. Additionally, McConnell and Biden cultivated a meaningful working relationship in the Senate, which has persisted throughout Biden's tenure as Vice President and his subsequent presidency.
According to Briley, a former Walz aide, the relationships lawmakers forge in Congress can vary from those cultivated by governors due to the distinctive nature of their roles.
"When you're executive material, the buck stops with you," Briley remarked. But in the legislature, "one is constantly searching for collaborators..." Walz, known for his outgoing nature and affability, is widely liked.
From cordial governors to under-the-breath jabs
The hostilities between Noem and Walz did not cease upon their exit from Congress. In 2018, they both triumphantly claimed the gubernatorial position in their respective states. Later, they even went so far as to snap a selfie together and share it via Twitter.
For a brief period, the geographical nearness of the two governors propelled them to collaborate. In 2019, Walz and Noem penned a joined letter to the Environmental Protection Agency director Wheeler, urging the agency to adhere to Trump's pledge to adhere to the Renewable Fuel Standard.
As governors of predominantly rural states, biofuels and agriculture policy served as common ground for Noem and Walz. In 2019, Walz chaired the Governors' Biofuels Coalition, with Noem serving as vice-chairman.
However, by 2020, the amicable relationship between Walz and Noem had begun to fray. During the pandemic, Noem garnered attention due to her staunch resistance to any lockdown measures intended to curb the coronavirus. She was particularly adamant against regulations surrounding the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August 2020. Walz, on the other hand, further tightened restrictions on gatherings in Minnesota and disparaged Noem, labeling the Sturgis gathering "absolutely unnecessary" and criticizing Noem for "traveling to other states and criticizing others - at a time when that state's hospital capacity is overwhelmed."
Tensions would only escalate in the ensuing years. By 2024, their previous camaraderie had dissolved into subtle digs. In April, Noem hoped that her new book, "No Going Back," would elevate her standing in the Republican political sphere and bolster her prospects of ultimately being chosen as Trump's Vice Presidential running mate. However, the book sparked controversy due to an anecdote about how she put down her misbehaving dog Cricket.
Walz's reaction? To initiate a pile-on of governors mocking her on Twitter.
"Post a picture with your dog that doesn't involve shooting them and dumping them in a gravel pit. I'll start," Walz wrote, accompanying his post with a picture of his own rescue dog.
Owen Dahlkamp contributed to this story.
Despite their amicable rapport and collaborative work on bills during their time in the House of Representatives, such as the Protect Our Prairies Act of 2013, Vice Presidential nominee Walz and Governor Noem have since taken opposing stances in politics. Following Walz's elevation to the Democratic VP nomination, Noem has criticized Walz's handling of "freedom" during the pandemic's peak, labeling him as a "radical."
In a shift from their past sentiments, these criticisms from Noem have been harsh, as she denounced Walz as a "radical leftist" during broadcast interviews on NewsMax and Fox News. Meanwhile, Walz has chosen not to respond directly to Noem's recent comments, focusing instead on his desire to work with Republicans to help farmers and veterans.
