ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — With feathers flying, Tim Walz accepted the symbolic presentation of a turkey Tuesday as he returns to his duties as Minnesota governor after Harris-Walz’s presidential election defeat.
Unlike the Minnesota-raised turkeys that President Joe Biden pardoned at the White House on Monday, Walz did not pardon this turkey, he said, “because we know in Minnesota that turkeys are delicious.”
The 41.8-pounder (19 kilograms) named Tom was raised by Paisley VonBerge, a Future Farmers of America leader from Hutchinson, and will star at her family’s Thanksgiving dinner. He flapped his wings and shed feathers as they hoisted him onto a display table, but quickly calmed down, unaware of his fate.
Trusted news and daily treats, straight to your inbox
See for yourself: The Yodel is the source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories.
“After today, this bird is going back to my farm to enjoy the way turkeys are meant to be enjoyed,” Paisley said.
“That’s very Minnesotan,” Walz added to loud laughter. “We don’t hide the fact that we love our turkeys.”
Minnesota produces more turkeys annually than any other state. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, farmers will have raised 38.5 million birds in 2023, followed by North Carolina with 29 million. North Carolina beat Minnesota in total pounds last year, producing just over 1.07 billion pounds (485 million kilograms), compared to just over 1.05 billion pounds (467 million kilograms) for Minnesota.
The ceremony in the governor’s reception room marked the first time Walz met with reporters at the Capitol since last summer, before Vice President Kamala Harris chose him as her running mate.
While Walz has held private meetings in recent weeks with staff, legislative leaders and other government officials, interviewed potential judicial nominees and answered some press questions, he is still busy with public events. He said Tuesday he had no regrets about agreeing to run for office — and is proud he did so.
The Walz-Harris ticket received more than 74 million votes, compared to almost 77 million for newly elected President Donald Trump. While Walz said this shows that many Americans liked the message he and Harris were putting out, he acknowledged that it was “not quite enough.”
“I was just happy to be there, and to be honest, happy to tell the story of Minnesota: that together we get things done and we’re pretty hopeful people,” he told reporters.
Walz is already preparing for the upcoming legislative session, when he and his fellow Democrats will have to share power with Republicans — a contrast from the past two years when they enjoyed the “trifecta” of controlling the office of the governor and both the House of Representatives and the Senate. .
While Democrats maintained their one-vote majority in the Senate, stories that concluded Monday confirmed that the House of Representatives will be tied 67-67 when lawmakers convene on Jan. 14, barring successful lawsuits within a few races can be submitted.
That will force compromises if lawmakers want to pass a balanced budget before the end of the session in May. But Walz said they proved that power-sharing could work in 2019, when Republicans controlled the Senate and Minnesota was one of the few states with a divided legislature.
“We will have some opportunities to continue in the positive direction we have been going,” Walz said.
