The Sconi

Charles Rickert, Wisconsin regional field director for Catholic Vote, said said Minnesota Governor and Democratic Vice President nominee Tim Walz was likely "estranged from his family" even before the separation caused by Covid-19 lockdowns.

"The COVID-19 lockdowns were the most repressive government actions in recent memory and Minnesota's COVID response was possibly the worst, thanks to Governor Walz," Rickert told The Sconi. "Lockdowns separated family members and kept people away from church for months or years."

"Based on his brother's comments, it seems Tim Walz didn't need COVID in order to become estranged from his family, though," he said.

Some of Minnesota Governor and Democratic Vice President nominee Tim Walz’s extended family, related through his grandfather’s brother, have also spoken out against his policies and campaign efforts.

A photo of the relatives of Tim Walz, who have admittedly never met Walz, began circulating the internet after being posted on X by former Nebraska Republican gubernatorial candidate Charles Herbster. The image shows eight people standing in front of a Trump flag wearing “Nebraska Walz's for Trump" shirts.

Walz and his family grew up in Valentine, Nebraska. Walz attended Chadron State College before moving away during his time in the Army National Guard.

Tim Walz’s brother, Jeff Walz, also commented on his brother’s ideology and character. “I’m 100% opposed to all his ideology,” said Jeff Walz in a Facebook comment, referring to his brother Tim Walz. 

“The stories I could tell,” Jeff Walz continued in another comment. “Not the type of character you want making decisions about your future.” 

Jeff Walz, a registered Republican who donated to Trump’s 2016 campaign, has not spoken to his brother in eight years, the New York Post reported. Jeff Walz lives in Florida with his wife. Tim Walz also has a sister, Sandy Dietrich, and a brother, Craig, who passed away in 2016.

Before becoming Kamala Harris’ running mate on the Democratic ticket,  Walz was the governor of Minnesota during COVID-19 lockdowns and during the Black Lives Matter riots. Minnesota saw some of the worst destruction in the country during these riots; stores were ransacked, streets trashed, and a police station burned to the ground; with little to no repercussions for the protestors. 

Walz is also “responsible for the cruelest and most inhumane abortion laws in America. As Governor, he signed into law taxpayer funded abortion for anyone, at any time, for any reason, right up to birth,” said civil rights attorney Roger Severino. 

Madison, Wisconsin-based Catholic Vote is an advocacy organization that wants to “inspire every Catholic in America to live out the truths of our faith in public life,” according to the group’s website. Founded in 2008, its president is Brian Burch.