Minnesota Gov. and Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz headlined the third night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, formally accepting his party's nomination. In his speech, he delivered an optimistic and emotional message to Americans, arguing why they should cast their ballot for the Harris-Walz Ticket.
Walz introduced himself to one of the biggest stages yet in his political career, as he and Harris embarked on a marathon to win the White House.
He launched his bid by sharing his biography, as he just recently rose to stardom becoming Harris' nominee. Walz grew up in a small town in Nebraska and worked as a high school social studies teacher and football coach before he was elected to Congress in 2006.
"I had 24 kids in my high school class, and none of them went to Yale," Walz said, seemingly referring to his Vice Presidential opponent JD Vance, who has often referred to his rural background in Ohio and later attended Yale University.
Walz' nomination was officially presented to one of his former students who he coached in basketball and track in seventh grade, Ben Ingman, and Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Ingman was joined by other football players from the school where Walz taught.
"Tim Walz is the kind of guy you can count on to push you out of the snowbank," Ingman said. "I know this because Tim Walz has pushed me out of a snowbank."
In his acceptance speech, Walz highlighted his service of 24 years in the Army National Guard, which he enlisted in at the age of 17. He has fiercely defended his time in the military after some Republican detractors, led by his Vice Presidential contender JD Vance, have questioned the authenticity of his service.
Overall, his remarks largely resembled his campaign rally speeches, referring to Trump and Vance as "weird," while also focusing on his victories for low and middle class families in Minnesota, including providing free universal lunch to all school kids in his state.
One of the big questions prior to Walz stepping on stage was if he would address abortion, which he has stirred away from. He did not. But he did retell the story of how his wife went through fertilization treatment, which inspired him and his wife to name their daughter "Hope."
Walz was accompanied by his entire family, who were shown on camera crying. His daughter Hope formed her hands into the shape of a heart and appeared to mouth "I love you" and his son Gus was sobbing and screaming "that's my dad."
"Hope, Gus, Gwen— you are my entire world, and I love you," Walz said.
The Vice Presidential nominee said a Harris administration would focus on the middle class, mentioning proposals announced last week by the campaign including a $25,000 down payment to first-time homebuyers, tax incentives for builders that build start homes sold to first-time buyers, and incentives to build affordable rental housing.
"No matter who you are, Kamala Harris is going to stand up and fight for your freedom to live the life that you want to lead. Because that is what we want for ourselves and it is what we want for our neighbors," Walz said.
He finished his brief remarks by using an analogy from the sport he is more than familiar with— football.
"Team, it is the fourth quarter, we are down a field goal, but we are on offense and we've got the ball," Walz said. "We are driving down the field. And, boy, do we have the right team, Kamala Harris is tough, Kamala Harris is experienced, Kamala Harris is ready. Our job is to get into the trenches and do the blocking and tackling. One inch at a time, one yard at a time, one phone call at a time, one door knock at a time, one $5 donation at a time."
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
