As the Democratic Party gears up for their new presidential campaign, House Republicans are shifting their focus from President Biden to Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz. In recent weeks, Republican lawmakers have launched a series of investigations targeting these key figures, scrutinizing their roles and connections in an effort to highlight perceived issues.
For over three years, House Republicans concentrated their investigative efforts on President Biden, examining his administration’s policies and potential missteps. With Biden no longer a candidate, their attention has turned towards Harris, especially concerning her role in migration and border policy. Republicans are now spotlighting her involvement—or lack thereof—in managing these critical issues.
In addition to scrutinizing Harris’s handling of border matters, House Republicans have also directed their investigations towards Governor Tim Walz’s connections to China. Despite his limited formal role in federal immigration policies, Harris is being targeted as the “border czar,” a title Republicans use to emphasize her perceived failures in managing the border crisis. This shift in focus is evident in the recent changes to GOP messaging. Press releases and communications now frequently refer to the “Biden-Harris administration,” a deliberate move to implicate Harris alongside Biden in various policy challenges.
Recently, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Homeland Security Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.), and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) held a press briefing criticizing Harris based on a new inspector general report about Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s difficulties tracking court dates for unaccompanied migrant children. Although the report did not directly involve Harris, the GOP used it as an opportunity to blame her for the situation at the border.
Republicans are also intensifying their examination of Walz’s ties to China. Representative Jim Banks (R-Ind.) has raised concerns about whether Walz complied with foreign travel reporting requirements during his visits to China. Meanwhile, Representative James Comer (R-Ky.) has requested information from the FBI regarding Walz’s interactions with Chinese entities and whether he received any defensive briefings about potential Chinese intelligence efforts.
Despite Walz’s actions that suggest a stance against Chinese influence—such as meeting with pro-democracy figures and supporting human rights legislation—Comer and other Republicans are suggesting that Walz’s history with China warrants further scrutiny. Comer has highlighted that while no financial ties between Walz and China have been found, his longstanding engagements with the country could still pose a significant concern.
This strategic shift underscores a broader GOP effort to pivot their focus and maintain scrutiny on Democratic figures as the election cycle progresses. Republicans are leveraging their investigative power to target Harris and Walz, aiming to shift public perception and rally their base in the run-up to the next election.