With Walz as her VP, Harris doubles down on her far-left plans. Republicans must use this.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris ' choice of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate is a short-sighted decision. It's also a glorious pick for Republicans.

I grew up in Minnesota, the beautiful North Star State. The people are lovely and hard working (and to quote Garrison Keillor, "strong" and "good-looking" ). But the state is as progressive as they come.

I went to college at age 18 and never moved back − for good reason.

For decades, Minnesotans have chosen leftist politicians like Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. IIhan Omar to represent them. As a result, Minnesota is one of the top 10 most taxed states in the union, and it pushes social policies that rival California's.

Walz is one in a long string of Democratic governors. Since 1971, the state has elected only one Republican, two independent Republicans and a Reform Party member (former pro wrestler Jesse Ventura ) as governor.

If Walz's progressive politics are a sign of where Harris wants to take this nation as president, Republicans − and anyone else who cares about the future of the country − should be concerned.

Walz doesn't broaden Harris' appeal

Most politicians running for president choose a running mate from a state they either need to win or who will help them appeal to swing states where they're struggling. But Harris is polling well in Minnesota.

It's possible Harris is concerned about sealing the state in her win column. Before Harris took over the ticket, President Joe Biden and Republican nominee Donald Trump were tied in Minnesota , which hinted at the possibility that the former president could win the traditionally blue state.

But Harris' poll numbers jumped significantly in Minnesota when she was bumped to the top of the ticket.

As a Republican, I bashed Biden. But Harris' far-left ideas scare me even more.

Scott Cottington, a Republican political consultant based in Minnesota, said the choice of Walz demonstrates Harris' weakness. He told me in an e-mail, "[Harris] chose Walz based on her feelings – not the math – and it’s some combo of fearing her leftist base and reading her own press clips and believing herself that talented."

Walz is a radical progressive

It's hard to overestimate what a radical progressive Walz has been in Minnesota. After Walz was reelected as governor in 2022, a Minneapolis Star Tribune headline captured the state's direction: “Minnesota Democrats Rapidly Advance the Most Progressive Agenda in a Generation.”

In 2023, lawmakers spent the state's $18 billion surplus on Walz's One Minnesota Budget , which pumped taxpayers' money into a number of the governor's pet projects, including free college for middle-income families.

Stock market crashing: As stock markets plummet, ask yourself: Do you really want Harris running the economy?

Fiscal policies are just the start. Minnesota could compete with California on social issues. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, Minnesota lawmakers enacted a right to abortion at all stages of pregnancy , ignoring any need for moderation or limits.

They also passed a law in 2023 establishing Minnesota as a transgender refuge state. Republicans worried that the new law will allow the state to force parents to give their children life-altering treatment, even if they disagree with their minor child's medical plans.

Walz doesn't shy away from his progressive image. On a "White Dudes For Harris" fundraising call for Harris last week, Walz said this about his own leftism: "Don't ever shy away from our progressive values. One person's socialism is another person's neighborliness."

That idea − that the power of government equates to being a good neighbor − is very on brand for Walz.

Opinion newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter on conservative values, family and religion from columnist Nicole Russell. Get it delievered to your inbox .

Mark Drake, a former GOP communications director in Minnesota, cast doubt on Walz's ability to help Harris due to his progressive record. "Kamala Harris seems to think that picking Tim Walz will help her shed her ultra-liberal San Francisco image, but I don't think it will," Drake said via email. "Tim Walz lost his home congressional district badly during his 2022 campaign because he went hard left as governor on taxes, spending and cultural issues."

Republicans must use Walz to their advantage

Walz is a weak pick compared to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, widely reported as a finalist to be Harris' running mate. Shapiro might have guaranteed a Harris win in Pennsylvania, and he comes across as measured and compassionate.

Walz's progressive record is clear, and it's a gift to Republicans right when they need use it.

In his novel, " Lake Wobegon Days ," Minnesotan Garrison Keillor wrote: "The rich can afford to be progressive. Poor people have reason to be afraid of the future.”

But these days, even the rich can't afford to be progressive. No one can. The country certainly can't either.

But Keillor is right about one thing: Poor people, rich people, Democrats and Republicans, should be afraid of the future that the Harris/Walz ticket would bring. The United States cannot afford to swing any further to the left.

Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track , and get it delivered to your inbox .

You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page , on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: With Walz as her VP, Harris doubles down on her far-left plans. Republicans must use this.