House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) said over the weekend that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is nothing more than California Governor Gavin Newsom dressed in a flannel shirt.

Emmer made the remarks during a Sunday interview on ABC News’ “This Week” while talking about how he has helped Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) prepare for this week’s vice presidential debate against Walz.

“I’ve known Tim, oh, probably since he was first elected almost 20 years ago. And I worked with him directly for four years,” he said. “I spent the last month just going back, all of his old stuff to get his phrases down, his mannerisms, that sort of thing. My job was to be able to play Tim Walz so J.D. Vance knows what he’s going to see.”

“Tim’s been a complete disaster in Minnesota,” he continued. “And what’s happened is, he’s so good at being this folksy, nice, kind of down-to-earth guy until people get to know him and his policies. I don’t know if you notice, but his whole congressional district, where he played this character for several years of being kind of a folksy, ag-friendly, outdoorsman — he lost it in both of his gubernatorial races. In the last one, almost by 10 points. He’s not well liked because once you get to know the real Tim Walz, he’s like Gavin Newsom in a flannel shirt.”

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.@tomemmer: Tim Walz has been a complete disaster in Minnesota. His old congressional district where he played this character for several years of being a “folksy outdoorsman” — he lost it in both of his gubernatorial races by 10 points. He’s Gavin Newsom in a flannel shirt. pic.twitter.com/iGKSoL7sEX

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 29, 2024