(Radio Iowa) – Minnesota Governor Tim Walz — during a weekend stop in Iowa — says this is the year for Democrats to be listening to voters.

Walz said “…It’s a rebuilding year, but I think there’s a great opportunity here in this moment, that there’s a void that needs to be filled.” Walz spoke with Radio Iowa before an event in Iowa’s third congressional district, which is represented by Republican Zach Nunn. Hundreds gathered in a Des Moines high school auditorium gave Walz a standing ovation when he arrived for the town-hall-style forum.

People in the crowd shared concerns about the changes President Trump and Elon Musk are making in the federal government.

Walz made a couple of brief references to the 2024 presidential race, but did tell the crowd Democrats need to be less timid.

Walz plans to speak in swing congressional districts where Republicans won narrowly in 2024. He’ll be in Omaha today (Saturday) where Republican Congressman Don Bacon won reelection by a two-point margin. The governor’s travels fuel speculation he may run for president in 2028, but Walz — in an interview — focused on his 2026 decision about running for a third term as Minnesota’s governor.

Walz has been saying there’s not a charismatic leader who’ll sweep in and save the Democratic Party, so it’s up to rank and file Democrats to turn the tide. Walz says the party needs a rebranding and Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and the state’s brand of populism are a start.

In a written statement issued during Walz’s appearance in Des Moines, Iowa G-O-P chairman Jeff Kaufmann said Walz has embraced the worst of left-wing policies. Congressman Nunn told Fox News the American people had a great town hall called the election — and Nunn noted his winning margin in November was about 15-thousand votes.