Minnesota governor Tim Walz formally accepted his party's nomination for vice president on Wednesday evening at the Democratic National Convention and expressed gratitude to the packed arena for “bringing the joy” to the election. "We're all here tonight for one beautiful, simple, reason: We love this country," said Walz. The democratic VP pick also shared stories about his upbringing in Nebraska and his experiences as a teacher and football coach in Minnesota, thanking the audience for their passion and dedication to the campaign.
"While other states were banning books from their schools, we were banishing hunger from ours," said Walz highlighting the progressive policies of his home state. He also took a subtle jab at his Republican counterpart, JD Vance, by mentioning the small size of his high school class and the fact that none of his classmates attended Yale. The Minnesota governor was introduced as as "Coach Walz" by Benjamin C Ingman, a former student of Walz from high school.
At Ingman's request, several of Walz's past players, sporting their red and white jerseys, joined him on stage for the introduction. Walz, a relatively unknown figure until his selection as Harris' running mate, has won over supporters with his background and helped to balance Harris' coastal roots by representing Midwestern states crucial to the election. However, he has also faced scrutiny, including questions about embellishing his background and a 2018 comment he made about carrying weap.