Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has long recounted a pivotal moment that he claimed sparked his political career, one in which he was reportedly turned away from a 2004 George W. Bush reelection rally in Mankato, Minnesota, alongside two students due to one of them sporting a John Kerry sticker.

Though this story has served as a cornerstone of his political narrative, recent reports have challenged its accuracy, and new evidence suggests that significant elements of Walz’s political origin story are either exaggerated or outright fabricated, as the New York Post reports.

Walz has consistently shared that the moment at the Bush rally was a defining event that drove him into politics. He portrayed the incident as a sudden awakening to political activism. However, evidence from multiple sources paints a different picture, indicating that Walz was already politically active prior to the rally and was not denied entry as he claimed.

Conflicting Accounts of Rally Events Emerge

The Washington Examiner published a report that contradicts Walz’s narrative. According to the report, the students who Walz claimed were barred from the rally because of a Kerry sticker were not his students. Furthermore, these individuals were not prohibited from entering due to any visible Kerry paraphernalia. The publication also revealed that Walz was actively protesting against Bush as a “Veteran for Kerry” before the rally took place, undermining his claim that the rally was a catalyst for his political involvement.

The two students, Matt Klaber and Nick Burkhart, were initially denied tickets to the rally after making unfavorable comments about President Bush. However, they were later offered tickets. These students were flagged as potential disruptors by the Secret Service, while Walz himself was admitted to the event without issue.

Revelations of Political Activism Prior to Rally

Chris Faulkner, a former Bush campaign aide, shed further light on the situation. According to Faulkner, Walz was not the apolitical figure he portrayed himself to be at the time of the rally. “It’s clear he was politically involved before that moment,” Faulkner said. He also stated that Walz was protesting in front of the ticket distribution center prior to the rally. “He was looking for an origin story,” Faulkner remarked, “and he made one up.”

Walz’s version of the events continued to evolve over time. In 2006, he is quoted by the Atlantic as expressing his outrage over the incident from the perspective of a soldier. “As a soldier, I told them I had a right to see my commander in chief,” Walz recounted, adding a patriotic angle to his narrative.

Continued Use of Story in Political Career

The incident became a focal point in Walz’s 2006 congressional campaign, where it was repeatedly cited as the moment that inspired him to enter politics. Then-Mayor John Brady even referenced the rally in a farewell speech for Walz after his election victory. Brady dramatized the story, stating that in a dream, he heard a voice saying, “You can keep me out of the quarry, but you can’t keep me out of Washington.”

An op-ed in the Mankato Free Press further amplified the story, framing Walz’s reaction to the rally as a stand for political inclusivity. “He believed everyone should be allowed to see their president, regardless of political affiliation,” wrote the op-ed’s author.

Walz Repeats Origin Story Over the Years

Walz did not shy away from retelling the story as recently as August 2020. In a Twitter post, he once again cited the rally as the turning point in his political journey, attributing his aspirations to the incident. “Having just returned from military duty in Italy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, I wished to hear directly from the President,” Walz wrote. He emphasized that his students deserved to witness the historical moment of a sitting president visiting their city.

Walz continued, expressing his concern over the division in the country, stating that it was shocking that “a veteran & a group of high schoolers would be turned away at the door.” He also asserted that this moment spurred him to run for office, despite having no prior deep involvement in political campaigns.

Contradictory Statements from Students Involved

However, the students involved in the incident have provided statements that further question the veracity of Walz’s story. Nick Burkhart, one of the students Walz referred to, denied that the Bush aides noticed his Kerry sticker, which he kept concealed in his pocket. In a 2021 tweet, Burkhart said, “I wasn’t so daft to wear a Kerry sticker to a rally, it was on my wallet, in my pocket.”

At the Democratic National Convention earlier this month, Walz reiterated his narrative, stating that it was his students and athletes who inspired him to run for Congress. He claimed that his commitment to the common good and the belief in making a real difference were the driving forces behind his decision to enter politics.

Harris-Walz Campaign Remains Silent

Despite the emerging contradictions in Walz’s story, the Harris-Walz campaign has not issued a comment on the revelations. As the discrepancies in Walz’s political origin story come to light, questions arise about the accuracy of other elements in his political narrative.

The story, once a powerful symbol of political awakening, now faces significant scrutiny. Walz’s narrative, which he has long used to bolster his political identity, appears to be less spontaneous and more strategically crafted than he initially portrayed.

Conclusion: A Narrative Under Question

Gov. Tim Walz's political origin story, centered around an alleged exclusion from a 2004 Bush rally, has been a key element of his public persona. However, recent evidence suggests that this story may not be as authentic as previously believed.

Despite Walz's claims of being barred from the rally due to a Kerry sticker, records show that he was already politically active and was not denied entry.

The conflicting accounts from the students involved, along with Walz’s evolving narrative, raise questions about the true origins of his political career. As the Harris-Walz campaign remains silent, the legitimacy of Walz’s story continues to be debated.