Where did the ‘Tampon Tim’ Walz nickname come from? We explain

Emily Bloch | (TNS) The Philadelphia Inquirer

Depending on who you ask, the nickname Republican operatives have given Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz — “Tampon Tim” — can be seen as an insult or a compliment.

The title, which has been used by former Donald Trump adviser Stephen Miller and other conservative-leaning critics, originally stems from a law that Walz signed surrounding access to menstrual products.

The school safety bill requires Minnesota public schools to provide menstrual products, including pads and tampons, to students in fourth through 12th grades.

The law — which took effect in January — has been widely celebrated, making Minnesota one of 28 states to pass laws that give students access to menstrual products. As noted by NPR, as president, Trump signed a 2018 package that requires federal prisons to provide them.

But Republican critics took issue with the legislation’s language, which acknowledges that people who menstruate are not necessarily women and that not all women have periods. Some challengers unsuccessfully tried to limit the law to only women’s and gender-neutral restrooms.

Under Walz, who is now the Democratic nominee for vice president, Minnesota was one of the first states to protect gender-affirming care through an executive order, while other states banned or limited access to it.

In turn, some supporters are making light of the “Tampon Tim” nickname, celebrating Vice President Kamala Harris’ selection of a candidate with a progressive track record on points like health-care access and LGBTQ+ rights.