Fact Check: Lewis Corrects WCCO’s Esme Murphy on Walz’s “Rocks and Cows”

Calls for Tina Smith to Disavow Walz’s Comments

August 4th, 2020

EAGAN, Minn. — U.S. Senate candidate Jason Lewis released the following statement after WCCO Sunday morning anchor Esme Murphy falsely claimed Governor Tim Walz didn’t dismiss rural Minnesota as “mostly rocks and cows.”

“Despite what Esme Murphy may want to believe, Governor Tim Walz did in fact refer to Greater Minnesota as ‘mostly rocks and cows.’ This dismissive and arrogant comment perfectly summarizes the DFL Party’s feelings about Greater Minnesota, especially Minnesota’s farmers and agricultural community. And sadly, Senator Tina Smith appears to be following directly in his footsteps, showing a complete disregard for our agricultural community. While I have visited eight farms since April, Tina Smith has visited exactly one. She can’t claim she understands the problems farmers are facing, especially during this pandemic, if she never bothers to meet with them. Newsflash: you actually have to travel outside of the Twin Cities once and a while if you want to know what the folks in Greater Minnesota are thinking.

While Esme Murphy may not remember it, I assure you our farmers haven’t forgotten the contemptuous way Walz referred to them. If Tina Smith wants to represent all of Minnesota, not just Hennepin and Ramsey County, she must disavow these comments.”

Lewis and Smith will face off in their first debate today at 11:30 a.m. at the virtual Minnesota FarmFest 2020. Register to watch the forum here.

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