Minnesota Governor Tim Walz sparked concern late Tuesday night when he went missing for hours following the VP debate, only to be discovered standing in the middle of a dark rural road, shoulder to shoulder with a herd of deer, transfixed by a pair of headlights.

The baffling incident occurred shortly after the televised debate concluded. Aides reported that Walz, looking somewhat dazed, excused himself to “get some air.” However, hours passed with no sign of the governor. Authorities were alerted, prompting a statewide search that ended when a local driver, on his way home from work, nearly ran over the governor and his four-legged companions.

“When I saw him standing there, just frozen like a deer in the headlights—well, it’s because he *was* literally a deer in the headlights,” said the driver, still trying to process the surreal scene. “He just stood there, wide-eyed, staring right at me, not moving an inch. It’s like he fit right in.”

Eyewitnesses describe Walz standing rigidly, arms stiffly by his sides, mirroring the doe-eyed expressions of the deer surrounding him. When approached by rescuers, the governor reportedly refused to budge, shaking off their attempts to coax him back to civilization. “Abortion. Project 2025. January 6th. I misspoke,” Walz allegedly muttered. “I am not a Chinese Communist plant.”

Back in the governor’s office, staffers have begun replacing fluorescent lights with softer, deer-friendly LED bulbs, just in case Walz has any more moments of animal solidarity. At press time, the governor was seen munching on some foliage, cautiously eyeing passing cars.