Walz faces scepticism from Butte ahead of VP debate
Butte residents divided on Tim Walz ahead of vice-presidential debate
Tim Walz is set to face J.D. Vance in Tuesday’s vice-presidential debate. Walz often shares stories about his small-town upbringing in Butte, Nebraska. However, Beth Lechtenberg, a rancher and mother of three in the predominantly Republican town of 270, finds it amusing. “We don’t want him running our country,” she said. “His morals and values don’t align with ours.”
Butte is surrounded by cornfields and has a short main street with a post office, bank, family-run café, and bar. Residents must travel 10 miles to reach the nearest grocery shop. A “TRUMP 2024” flag flutters near the community centre, where voting will take place in November. Across the road, a storage facility displays the slogan “GOD, GUNS AND TRUMP.”
Despite his deep roots in Butte, the town’s residents are divided over Walz. Journalists have flocked to the town since Kamala Harris chose the Minnesota governor as her running mate in August. Brad Kallhoff, a 58-year-old transportation business owner, said, “I’m friends with a lot of his family, and none of them have anything good to say about him. They say Tim was a good kid, but something changed in Minnesota.”
NEW: Walz allies know the folksy guv has never faced the level of scrutiny he’s set for tonight
A little-known trait per MN Dem lawmakers: he can be overly defensive + shut down convos when pressed on missteps in private
It’s his biggest moment yethttps://t.co/LW5CI40fYP
— Meredith Lee Hill (@meredithllee) October 1, 2024
Walz was born in West Point, grew up in Valentine, and attended high school in Butte, each town smaller than the last. In his Democratic convention speech in August, he praised Butte, where his mother still lives, as a place where neighbors look out for each other despite differing views.
Walz’s politics clash with Butte’s, a county that voted 87 percent Republican in the last presidential election. Jean Hanson, a 63-year-old accountant who attended Walz’s high school but left Butte in 1980, said his rise to prominence has been “very hard” for the town to accept. “They want to be proud of him, but he’s very Democratic,” she said from her home in Omaha.
In Butte, several residents acknowledged Walz as a “good man” and expressed pride in his achievements, even if they wished he represented a different political side. Britanie Brewster, 38, who runs the town’s small museum, said Walz gives people hope. “You can come from a small town and do anything,” she said. “But his views are very different from people here.”
Few residents planned to watch the debate, which coincides with a girl’s volleyball game, a firefighter volunteers meeting, and the harvesting season. Walz’s mother, Darlene, was not planning to be in town for the debate as neighbors said she had been flown out to support her son. Lechtenberg, who disagrees with Walz on issues from abortion to his handling of protests following George Floyd’s death, plans to catch up on highlights later on Fox News. “We know what he stands for, and I don’t feel like we’re gonna learn anything new,” she said.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Hindustan Times highlights the bittersweet spotlight on Tim Walz in his Republican hometown, where his political rise and controversies are both acknowledged and debated among locals.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Tim Walz debating in the vice-presidential debate?
Tim Walz is debating J.D. Vance.
What is the general sentiment in Butte, Nebraska towards Tim Walz?
Residents feel his morals and values don’t align with theirs.
Where did Tim Walz grow up and attend high school?
He grew up in Valentine and attended high school in Butte, Nebraska.
How do Butte residents feel about Tim Walz’s political rise?
They are torn; proud of his achievements but disagree with his politics.
Why might some Butte residents not watch the debate?
The debate conflicts with a school volleyball game, a firefighter meeting, and harvesting season.
