Additional Coverage:
- Tim Walz’s mom breaks silence over rift between Harris’s VP pick and his brother Jeff (newsbreak.com)
Tim Walz’s mother, Darlene Walz, has spoken out about the strained relationship between her son, a Democratic vice presidential candidate, and his older brother, Jeff, a Donald Trump supporter. In an interview with The Daily Beast, she revealed that the brothers do not see eye to eye, particularly on political matters, with Jeff having supported Trump in 2016 while Tim Walz now challenges him alongside Kamala Harris.
Darlene expressed her desire to maintain peace within the family by avoiding involvement in the brothers’ disputes. She particularly tries to steer clear of political discussions when visiting Jeff in Florida, noting that their interactions are otherwise harmonious.
Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, is well-regarded for his progressive policies, including legislation to provide free sanitary products to students from grades 4 to 12 in Minnesota schools. His liberal stance was evident early in his career when he served as faculty advisor for the first gay-straight alliance at Mankato West High School in 1999.
Conversely, Jeff has been openly critical of his brother’s political views, a stance he recently shared on Facebook, warning others about the type of decisions his brother would make. Although he later expressed regret for airing his opinions on social media, Jeff acknowledged the need to clarify his political beliefs to acquaintances.
The family’s political divide was further highlighted when several of Walz’s extended family members were seen wearing “Walz’s for Trump” shirts in a photo shared online by Charles Herbster, a former Republican candidate from Nebraska, where Walz grew up. The post was even acknowledged by Trump on his Truth Social platform.
Despite the family discord, Darlene, a lifelong Democrat, remains hopeful for her son’s success with Harris against Trump and his vice presidential pick, JD Vance, in the upcoming election. She fondly recalled campaigning for her son in previous elections and attending last month’s Democratic National Convention.
The family’s political differences underscore a national divide, yet Darlene Walz hopes that despite their disagreements, the brothers can eventually reach a place of mutual respect and civility.