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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) -- who is now Kamala Harris' pick for vice president -- won reelection in 2022 after defeating Scott Jensen, MD, a family physician who became known for his controversial COVID stances.

Jensen, who served as a state senator from 2017 to 2021, had a reputation for being a moderate Republican before the COVID pandemic, .

During the pandemic, he because he had antibodies from a mild infection in August 2020, even to avoid vaccine requirements. He also reportedly called for civil disobedience over masks and promoted unproven treatments such as ivermectin, .

Jensen also was " (AFLD), one of the most outspoken groups against COVID public health policies. Jensen even signed onto a brought by AFLD seeking to halt COVID vaccines for some kids.

"I've definitely been a [COVID] skeptic, to be sure," Jensen said during the in October 2022, describing what prompted him to become one. He said a doctor told him a patient had died due to a fall, but COVID had been listed as a "contributing condition" on the patient's death certificate.

He reached out to the state's health department as the vice chair of the department of human services committee at the time in search of an explanation, but received no response, Jensen said.

"All I got was 3 months later, for the first time in my life, I was being investigated, my medical license," Jensen said during the debate. "That's been five times, but it's never been done because of a healthcare service I provided. It's because someone didn't like my politics."

The five investigations by the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice were the result of complaints about Jensen's stances on COVID, but none resulted in disciplinary action. Jensen sued the board -- in state court and in federal court -- for free speech violations due to its investigations. A judge in April, and the state complaint is set to go to trial in November.

During that debate he also spoke out against school lockdowns, shutting down businesses, the "denial of natural immunity," and "flip-flopping" on the vaccine, in terms of it ultimately not completely preventing infection or blocking transmission of the virus.

When asked who he would turn to for medical advice if he were elected governor, Jensen named other physicians with controversial COVID stances -- Harvey Risch, MD, PhD, of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut; John Ioannidis, MD, of Stanford University in California; radiologist Scott Atlas, MD, also of Stanford University; and cardiologist Peter McCullough, MD.

Healthcare was a frequent topic during all three debates, illuminating Walz's position on key healthcare topics including drug prices, abortion, and opioid abuse.

Healthcare has become "way too expensive" Walz said during the , hosted by Gray Television. He emphasized that abortion is a constitutionally protected right in Minnesota, and he pounced on an admission by Jensen that pharmaceutical company perks, such as meals, influenced his prescribing of opioids.

Walz also frequently faced questions about the state's "Feeding Our Future" scandal, in which 70 people ultimately were accused of stealing $250 million in federal relief aid meant for children. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) the "largest COVID-19 fraud scheme in the nation."

The individuals allegedly diverted the funds to buy things like luxury cars, houses, jewelry, and a coastal resort property abroad, . As of June, 18 defendants have pleaded guilty and five were convicted by a federal jury.

"When there were those putting out false information, internet myths, ivermectin, whatever you have," Walz said, "this was a life-and-death situation and food security was a top priority. The vast majority of those [grantees] delivered and did an incredible job."

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