ST PAUL, Minn. — For the first time since the 2024 presidential election, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz delivered public remarks about the election and his "path forward" on Friday.
"I love this country, I love this state, I love this job and I'm not done fighting for Minnesota, not by a long shot," said Walz.
The governor addressed a crowd of supporters and media shortly after the First Lady of Minnesota, Gwen Walz introduced him.
Governor Walz made a point to address the 1.5 million Minnesotans who voted for the Trump/Vance ticket.
“While there may not be a place for the most extreme elements of that agenda, there should be a place in our politics for everyone to be heard,” said Walz.
"It's hard, it's hard to lose it's hard to understand why so many of our fellow citizens, who we have fought long and hard for, chose the other path," he added.
Walz also addressed his supporters and how they're feeling after the loss, saying "Take some time, take care of yourselves, take care of your loved ones, take care of your community."
Walz was named the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee in late summer, just days after Vice President Kamala Harris was elevated to the top of the Democrats' presidential ticket when incumbent President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
Since then, Walz toured the country campaigning for the Harris-Walz ticket, and participated in the one and only Vice Presidential Debate against Republican Senator (and now Vice President-elect) JD Vance in October.
"Even in the face of defeat and deep disappointment, I've never felt more inspired. I've never felt more fired up of what's possible in this country," he said.
Gov. Walz told the crowd that he is among people worried about the next four years, saying they will have to get ready to defend the "progress that we've made here in Minnesota."
"The moment they try and bring a hateful agenda in this state I'm going to stand ready to stand up and fight for the way we do things here."
The Harris-Walz ticket won Minnesota, but lost the national electoral vote to President-elect Donald Trump.
What's next for Gov. Walz?
He still has two years left as Governor, but he faces a tougher road ahead with Republicans flipping three seats in the Minnesota House, creating a tie for control. This ends the Democrat's control of the state's legislature that they had since 2022.
Walz will have to reach across the aisle more, something he said he's willing to do. However, Hamline University political science professor David Schultz thinks Walz's credibility as a facilitator is weakened now.
"He's essentially a lame duck now for the next two years, and I think his political influence, his political capital, is significantly diminished,'" Schultz said.
Schultz believes this legislative session has all the makings to be explosive, especially with both sides needing to agree on a budget by July 1.
"The Democrats are not used to negotiating, and the Republicans have a bunch of built-up grievances and policy they want, and they have the capacity to veto almost anything the Democrats want to do," Schultz said.
Walz did not discuss Friday if he will seek re-election as Governor in 2026. Only one Minnesota governor post-World War II has won a third term.