It was part homecoming, part political pep rally for Gov.Tim Walz and his wife Gwen.

The event, at Eagan High School Friday, was the governor’s first public appearance in Minnesota since election day.

On Wednesday, Walz and his family were in Washington D.C. in the crowd at Vice President Kamala Harris’ concession speech, where she thanked her running mate and said the Walz family will continue to serve the nation. The Walz family returned home later in the day.

At the Friday event, Walz acknowledged the difficulty of losing the presidential election against Donald Trump and JD Vance.

“It’s hard to lose,” Walz said. “It’s hard to understand why so many of our fellow citizens, people we fought for, had a hand in choosing the other path.”

Walz says he would continue working in Minnesota for some of the key issues in the Democrats’ campaign.  

“As long as I’m governor of Minnesota, we will protect women’s rights to make their own health care decisions,” he declared. “As long as I am governor, we will welcome immigrants with gratitude for their contributions to our communities.”

Meanwhile, at the Workhorse Coffee Bar in St. Paul, there was much talk about Walz’s return and whether he was a good vice presidential pick for Kamala Harris.

“I think he was a very smart choice,” said Laura Mauro from St. Paul. “And I believe he helped her.”

“I’m sure Walz has had to be a good loser, you know, like handle it well,” added Erin Brockmeier, a barista at the coffee bar.

But the governor comes home to a Minnesota House of Representatives that’s divided and evenly split for only the second time ever.  

“And it needs to get done,” declares Chris Brauninger from Minneapolis. “Not everybody try to make it feel that it’s a win or lose on one side or the other. “

Walz says he is taking Donald Trump at his word that he’ll let states make their own decisions on vital issues.

The governor isn’t up for reelection for another two years.

He urged his supporters to take a break after the election, to perhaps stay active in their communities, and then get ready to go back to work.

Walz is vowing to work with both sides of the aisle.

“To work with everyone,” he says. “The Legislature, to seek compromise and common ground because this is how we come together after a long time fighting each other.”