The election is rapidly approaching and tech policy is taking center stage—it’s even emerging as one of the key battlegrounds that could define the future of the United States. Americans have heard the presidential candidates speak on how they envision America’s technological future, but not much is heard from the vice presidential candidates. Where do they stand on tech?
Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) is a staunch advocate for antitrust reform, broadband accessibility, and AI regulation. His agenda includes safeguarding smaller tech platforms, pushing for reforms to Section 230, and strengthening consumer data protections against foreign adversaries. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has made workforce development, data privacy, and broadband expansion the foundation of his tech agenda in Minnesota, helping the state stand out as a digital economy leader.
Nicol Turner Lee and Darrell West have a 30-minute discussion on the VP candidate’s history of technology policy issues. Both have held various offices long enough to have a track record.
Governor Walz happened to be the keynote speaker at the Esri Users Conference this summer. Esri is the largest geographic information systems (GIS) software vendor in the world. GIS is used extensively in the broadband industry for network planning, design, and management. Governor Tim Walz, Minnesota | Keynote at 2024 Esri UC Plenary Session