## Bitter End to a Sour Year: Rift Widens Between Minnesota Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan
The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party is concluding a challenging year marked by internal discord and escalating tensions between Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan. Reports from Axios and the Star Tribune revealed a significant rift between the two, whose political partnership began in 2017 when Walz selected Flanagan as his running mate.
An administration source confirmed the reports’ general claims of tension, while Lieutenant Governor Flanagan did not respond to requests for comment. For years, Flanagan was a constant presence at Walz’s public appearances, actively engaging with constituents. However, the reports, corroborated by Walz’s public schedule, indicate that the two haven’t appeared together since their unsuccessful national election bid, which prevented Flanagan’s ascension to the governorship.
The Star Tribune, citing anonymous sources, reported that Walz’s team was displeased with Flanagan’s actions in anticipation of a potential gubernatorial run in 2026, including discussions with potential staff hires. Further fueling the discord were disagreements over financial matters; sources claimed Flanagan accessed Walz’s gubernatorial campaign funds without authorization.
When questioned about the rift on WCCO radio, Walz dismissed the reports, attributing the lack of joint appearances to scheduling conflicts. Regarding the unauthorized access to campaign funds, he stated he was unaware of the situation.
This latest incident isn’t the first sign of division. Flanagan’s progressive activism, notably her involvement in protests against police killings in 2020 and 2021, contrasts with Walz’s emphasis on public order following events like the George Floyd murder and the Daunte Wright shooting. Walz’s response to the latter, deploying a show of force criticized by demonstrators and the press as a First Amendment violation, further highlighted their differing approaches. These contrasting stances even raised questions about Flanagan’s place on the 2022 ticket.
Despite their two-decade-long acquaintance, stemming from their time at Camp Wellstone (Walz as a student, Flanagan as an instructor), their political partnership has been marked by underlying tensions. Walz’s selection of Flanagan as his running mate aimed to broaden his appeal to Twin Cities progressives, a strategy that proved necessary when he failed to secure the DFL convention endorsement before winning the primary.
Walz, who has not granted an interview to the Minnesota Reformer since the national election, hinted at a potential third term after the 2025 legislative session, seemingly inviting a primary challenge from within his own party. The future of the DFL and the Walz-Flanagan partnership remains uncertain as the party navigates these internal conflicts.
(Author and Publication Information – J. Patrick Coolican, Minnesota Reformer, December 19, 2024)
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