In Minnesota, Gov. Walz trades barbs with GOP's Jensen over economy, COVID response

Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor governor, Tim Walz, traded barbs with Republican challenger Scott Jensen in Friday's debate.

Streamed by Minnesota Public Radio, the candidates debated in a nearly empty venue, with only staffers and press in attendance. The pair traded personal insults for much of the debate and there were few, if any, moments of levity.

"Scott's vision is a dark and fearful vision of Minnesota," Walz said, per the StarTribune. "We offer up solutions to the toughest problems, making sure we're fully funding our public schools, making sure that we're investing in moving Minnesota's economy forward and being a leader on climate change."

"I became a family doctor because I wanted to help people," Jensen said, according to the Associated Press. "I'm running for governor because Tim Walz hurt people. His slogan was 'One Minnesota.' That's a sham. Tim Walz failed. Minnesota is broken. We're fractured. We're (more) deeply divided than I can remember in my lifetime."

Much of the debate focused on Jensen's proposal to eliminate the state income tax, though that also prompted an intense bout of jabs. Jensen invited Walz to discuss the issue, to which the governor responded "I didn't talk to you, Scott, because you quit the Legislature."

Jensen retorted that "You quit the National Guard. I retired because my wife had to have some surgeries. But nice shot, Tim."

Walz, who presided over the state's response to COVID-19, drew flak for his handling of the pandemic. "I think it's been pretty well established that locking kids out of school was a horrible decision," Jensen said, per the outlet. "Maybe you get a first 10 days pass."

"That's not how it works as governor, a governor works with the folks who are experts," was Walz's reply.

RealClearPolitics currently rates the race a "toss up" and assigns Walz a narrow, 2.5% average lead, though the most recent poll from Trafalgar Group shows the candidates tied at 46% support.

Minnesota's last Republican governor was Tim Pawlenty, who left office in 2011 after serving two terms. The state has not backed a Republican for president since Richard Nixon in 1972. It the only state to have consistently supported a Democrat in every presidential election for the past 50 years.