(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley is sharing his initial impressions of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz — Kamala Harris’ pick for a running mate. “Well, I don’t have any opinion of him,” Grassley said this morning, “and I realize now that I’ve learned that he served 10 years in U.S. House, but I don’t remember any interaction with him.” Walz served in the House from 2007 to 2019 and was a member of the House Ag Committee. Grassley said it’s unusual that he didn’t work with Walz on anything agriculture- or ethanol-related in all of those years, especially since they’re from neighboring states. Grassley, a Republican, said he’s done some research on Walz. “He has changed from being a moderate congressman to being a very liberal, progressive agenda governor in Minnesota,” Grassley said, “particularly since the legislature in Minnesota has switched to both houses being Democrat.”

Grassley says voters will have a very clear choice in November between the Trump-Vance and Harris-Walz tickets. “There’s a whole long list of very liberal pieces of legislation that he’s advocated and has signed,” Grassley said of Walz, “and so that turnaround from somebody that’s moderate to somebody really progressive would kind of surprise me, that he’d have that change of mind.”

Walz was born and raised in Nebraska, served 24 years in the Army National Guard, and worked as a high school social studies teacher before turning to politics. He’s been Minnesota’s governor since 2019. Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart released a written statement after the Harris campaign announced Walz would be the vice presidential nominee. Hart said Walz “is a great candidate who understands Midwest principles, how hard Iowans work and the value of a dollar.”