Walz praises 2 Republicans in podcast interview

By The Associated Press

Gov. Tim Walz (File)

Gov. Tim Walz is heaping praise on a couple of Republican former colleagues — a message that echoes Vice President Kamala Harris’ promises to nominate a member of the GOP for her Cabinet if she’s elected.

In an interview with the SmartLess podcast aired Monday, the Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota governor showered compliments on Oklahoma U.S. Sen. James Lankford and Jeff Flake, a former U.S. representative and U.S. senator from Arizona who also served as U.S. ambassador to Turkey until last month.

Lankford authored a bipartisan immigration deal that appeared to have a chance of passing before falling apart earlier this year after former President Donald Trump expressed his opposition to it.

“That guy is the most conservative person I ever met, but he’s also one of the most honorable,” Walz said of Lankford. “Some of these people need to be put in a position where they truly have the ability to influence things because they are ethical and they care about this country.”

Flake, who describes himself as a “conservative Republican,” last month endorsed Harris and Walz.

Walz described Flake as “super conservative” and “as honest as anything.”

The SmartLess podcast is hosted by Hollywood actors Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes.

Walz served in the U.S. House from 2007 to 2019. He was inaugurated as Minnesota governor on Jan. 7, 2019.