This story was originally published by MPR News.
Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer didn’t sugarcoat his appraisal of Gov. Tim Walz during a national radio appearance last month, calling his home-state leader “an embarrassment to himself and our state.” The Fox News Radio interviewer had asked about a veiled swipe Walz had taken at President Donald Trump.
Not long after, Walz used a campaign rally to poke back at Emmer, the Republican majority whip in the U.S. House.
“Do a damn town hall, Tom Emmer, get out there and listen,” Walz told supporters in Minneapolis. “Don’t go on Fox News and gripe at me because you had a chance to be governor, and Minnesota said, ‘Hell no.’”
Before Walz became governor, he was a Democratic congressman from a rural district. Before Emmer went to Congress, he lost a nailbiter of a governor’s race in 2010.
The two have never run against each other, but they fight like they have a head-to-head history.
The public jabs are becoming more frequent between Minnesota’s top Democrat and top Republican. University of Minnesota political science professor Kathryn Pearson said the spat could have real ramifications for the people that Walz and Emmer serve.
“We are in an era of nationalized politics where no one is holding back from attacking the other party, even if it means attacking someone who also represents constituents in the same state as you do,” Pearson said.
Both men have built up their profiles nationally. Last year, Walz nearly became vice president. Emmer played Walz in practice debates with now-Vice President JD Vance. For his part, Emmer almost became House speaker a couple of years ago. And now, he’s third in power in the GOP-led House.
As they maintain positions in national political discussions, they continue to invoke one another. But that comes with consequences, Pearson said.
“The delegation on issues of specific concern to Minnesota should be working together,” Pearson said. “It is problematic when there’s a communication breakdown between any members of the delegation, and in particular with the highest-ranking member of the delegation in the majority party and the governor.”
Emmer and Walz rarely appear at the same events. At a groundbreaking ceremony last month, the pair shoveled dirt at the future Niron magnetics manufacturing facility in Sartell.
But the real digs came as they took the stage to celebrate the new facility.
Emmer refreshed a line Walz used long ago in reference to rural parts of the state — a statement often clipped for political effect.
“It’s also great to see so many of our wonderful friends from the Twin Cities out here in greater Minnesota,” Emmer told the crowd. “It just makes me think, contrary to what some people might say, we have a lot more to offer out here than just rocks and cows.”
The DFL governor turned it back on Emmer, urging the GOP congressman to work with him on projects like the one they were highlighting.
“And I appreciate Rep. Emmer noting this, that this was founded at the University of Minnesota in the heart of the Twin Cities, which you’re welcome to come and experience one Minnesota with us, because we’re in this together,” Walz said.
This could be regarded as one of the more polite exchanges between them lately. In other settings, they’ve taken on a more bitter tone.
“Thirteen-thousand National Guard soldiers in Minnesota are currently not getting paid because of the Democrats’ shutdown. Pathological liar Tim Walz would like Minnesotans to believe that this is somehow Republicans’ fault,” Emmer said during a media call about the ongoing federal government shutdown.
“I’ve got news for our failed governor and vice presidential candidate who clearly needs a refresher on how our government works and how to do simple math,” Emmer continued. “In the United States Senate, we have this well-known procedural tactic called the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to end debate and allow a bill to come to the floor.”
Walz places the blame on Emmer for the breakdown in Washington, D.C.
“Well, just keep in mind that Tom Emmer is the architect of this. He’s the whip,” Walz said at a state Capitol news conference this month. “It’s constantly campaigning with Congressman Emmer, someone who spends his time demeaning me and my military service when he didn’t do a day in uniform.”
While they once had a decent working relationship — they overlapped in the U.S. House for four years — Walz said their communication has been cut. Now, most exchanges take place online, through terse letters or from a microphone.
“I couldn’t express my disappointment in Tom Emmer, more than inability of trying to work together, work with our office,” Walz said.
Emmer’s office didn’t respond to a question about the apparent breakdown in communication with the governor’s office.
With an election year on the way, Emmer and Walz are both expected to be on the 2026 ballot and unlikely to let up on their public tiff.
MPR Correspondent Kirsti Marohn contributed to this report from Sartell.
