Critics have raised concerns about the Minnesota governor. Tim WalzThe Democrats’ handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the unrest following the death of George Floyd has been particularly notable since Vice President Kamala Harris named Walz as her running mate.

George Floyd protests and curfews

Following the killing of George Floyd in police custody, protests broke out in Minneapolis and St. Paul, leading to massive looting, arson and rioting. In retaliation, Walz imposed a curfew in the Twin Cities, prohibiting everyone from being outdoors between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., except for emergency responders, members of the media and people commuting to and from work.

Walz deployed the Minnesota National Guard to assist local law enforcement in restoring order, with arrests being made for people violating the curfew. After initially being enforced for a few days, the curfew was later extended to a full week.

False information about the role of the National Guard

A video recently resurfaced that allegedly shows Minneapolis police and members of the Minnesota National Guard patrolling a residential area and shooting paint canisters at residents. False claims were raised by certain social media users who claimed that Walz gave the order to implement the COVID-19 lockdown measures. However, reports from 2020 show that these activities had nothing to do with Covid-19 regulations, but were rather part of attempts to maintain peace during the demonstrations.

Measures and restrictions related to COVID-19

Over four years ago, governors across the country, including Tim Walz, issued executive orders to curb the spread of COVID-19. Walz implemented measures including curfews, mask mandates, and the temporary closure of restaurants and schools. Businesses that ignored these orders risked fines and legal action.

With Executive Order 2001, Walz declared a “peacetime emergency” on March 13, 2020, which lasted until it was lifted by the state legislature in June 2021. Not much later, on March 15, 2020, he issued an order temporarily closing public schools. The following day, pubs, restaurants, and other public spaces were also closed. These measures were in line with then-President Donald Trump’s federal guidelines limiting events with more than 10 people.

Walz’s policies, which were intended to strike a balance between economic stability and public safety, changed with the epidemic. On March 27, 2020, an executive order was issued requiring Minnesotans to stay home, except for essential activities and employment in the vital sector. The order was later extended; it was originally scheduled to expire on April 10, 2020. During this time, the classification of “essential workers” became a controversial topic.

Political polarization in the state intensified after Walz imposed a ten-month mask mandate.

Trump’s support during the 2020 riots

A recorded conversation between Walz and then-President Trump in 2020 revealed Trump’s support for Walz’s handling of the Minneapolis unrest following George Floyd’s death. This recording was released by the Kamala Harris campaign in response to claims by JD Vance that Walz “encouraged” the unrest.