'Ready to get on the road' Tim Walz says the Democratic Party's future lies in grassroot leaders

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" On Wednesday, he discussed his Operation Metro Surge and the future of the Democratic Party. Walz, who dropped out of the gubernatorial race, expressed that he still planned to keep working for his party, and through his newly launched PAC, he said he was ready to hit the road and reach out to "teachers, nurses, laborers, vets, and young people" who would better connect with voters than "billionaires". 

Speaking to Kimmel, the Minnesota Gov. said his Small Town PAC, which launched on Monday, was an effort to help "good people" get elected to public office. He shared that before the age of 40, he never attended a political meeting, yet the state of Minnesota had the infrastructure to train him and get him elected to Congress. "I know I can go out there and find people who are better than the clowns and fools who are doing this now," Walz said. Sharing a clip of his remarks on X, Walz further added that  he was "ready to get on the road to find some teachers, nurses, veterans, laborers, and young people who can represent their communities better than billionaires."

Announcing his next political endeavor, Walz said his federal political action committee will seek to recruit and support Democrats in rural communities nationwide. “It’s time for me to pass the baton and return the favor. And it’s time for Democrats to expand the map,” Walz said in a statement. He added that the country needs a new generation of elected leaders and "lord knows" the Democrats need some new faces. "So let’s go recruit some good people with energy and fresh ideas who actually understand small towns," Walz said. 

On the late-night show, Kimmel started the 10-minute segment with Walz asking him about the Operation Metro Surge, and if he thought it was a coincidence that Minnesota became a target for President Donald Trump. "No, it's not a coincidence, and I don't think it's just me. I think he hates Minnesota because we take care of our people," Walz said. When asked about the largest pandemic-era fraud case that took place in Minnesota, Walz claimed it happened in other states, and they were prosecuting people, but Trump used it as an excuse to "demonize" the immigrant community. The Trump administration temporarily blocked $259 million in Medicaid funding to the state over fraud concerns, as per CBS. 

Kimmel then asked if the fraud case was the reason for him to drop out of the Governor race. Walz shook his head, saying, "Two terms is probably enough." On the fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal agents, Walz said the culprits were "whisked out of Minnesota," but he had launched a "truth commission" to "bring them back and hold them accountable. He added that the investigation was hindered as there was a lack of cooperation by the federal government. Walz also expressed that at the end of the day, it was important that a progressive Democrat hold the seat after him.