Democrats and pundits trying to put a brave face on the selection of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate have sought to emphasize his personality and his life experiences. But none points to his record in his home state, and for good reason: Minnesota has declined significantly under Tim Walz’s leadership.

Economically, Minnesota lags behind the rest of the nation, Barron’s reports: “Overall, Minnesota’s economy during Walz’s tenure has grown more slowly than that of the rest of the country.” The Center for the American Experiment adds: “Minnesota recently fell behind the country in GDP per capita for the first time in modern history.”

If anything, Minnesota should be growing faster than the rest of the country, given its proximity to the fossil fuel industry of the upper Great Plains. But Walz, like his party, has embraced the cause of “climate change.” He has followed California’s example in setting a target for “net zero emissions” (by 2050), which means wiping out the fossil fuel industry and finding solar energy in the winter. That means raising energy prices and possible future shortages — as in California.