In a move that Republicans quickly condemned, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) recently declared that Democrats should form a “shadow government” as a direct response to President Donald Trump’s administration. Walz made the provocative suggestion while participating in a Texas town hall event alongside former Rep. Beto O’Rourke.
During the discussion, Walz accused President Trump of intentionally suppressing votes through new election security measures that require citizenship verification for voter registration. He portrayed the policy as one aimed primarily at limiting voter participation, particularly impacting women voters.
Walz proposed that Democrats set up alternative press briefings to directly challenge information provided by the Trump administration. His suggestion — based on a British model known as a shadow cabinet — involves creating a formal opposition group tasked with regularly presenting different perspectives on government actions and policies.
At the same event, Walz expressed regret over Democrats’ previous approach to governance. He argued the party had squandered opportunities to pass significant progressive legislation, including the Employee Free Choice Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, by seeking bipartisan compromise instead of being assertive.
Republicans strongly criticized Walz’s “shadow government” idea. President Trump’s social media response labeled Walz as “unhinged,” emphasizing that the governor’s stance appeared rooted in opposition to commonsense election reforms meant to prevent fraud.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) also mocked Walz’s proposal, sarcastically encouraging him to continue making controversial statements, implying they might benefit Republicans politically.
Walz shared a personal experience involving his son, Gus, who reminded him bluntly of his electoral defeat to Trump. According to Walz, this interaction underscored the need for Democrats to better listen to voters and take more decisive political action.
The Trump administration’s 2024 victory was decisive, with Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance obtaining 312 electoral votes compared to the 226 votes won by Harris and Walz. Republicans now control Congress, holding 218 seats in the House and 53 in the Senate. The GOP credits their electoral success to extensive efforts aimed at securing election integrity, including deploying thousands of poll watchers and filing numerous lawsuits.
