Overview

• At the South Carolina Democratic Party convention on May 31, Walz urged his fellow Democrats to “be a little meaner” in countering President Trump’s actions.
• He depicted Trump as a “weak, cruel man” and argued that confronting him requires the same lessons teachers use to challenge a bully.
• In recent weeks, Walz has led the DNC’s “People’s Town Halls” in key swing districts, including Iowa, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Texas, highlighting his outreach in Republican-leaning areas.
• His rhetorical shift and national engagements have fueled speculation about a potential 2028 presidential bid, though he has not formally declared any plans.
• Democratic leaders are wrestling with a sharp decline in party favorability, with progressives calling for aggressive resistance and others such as Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer urging a more measured approach.