CHICAGO — Before a jam-packed Democratic National Convention, and on the screens of millions of Americans, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz formally addressed the entire country for the first time as the vice presidential candidate for the Democratic Party. Walking on stage to John Mellencamp's "Small Town," Walz waved and bowed to the chanting crowd.
"It's the honor of my life to accept your nomination for Vice President of the United States," Walz said. "We're all here tonight for one beautiful, simple reason: We love this country." ADVERTISEMENT He spoke briefly on his upbringing, saying his small Nebraska town taught him how to take care of his neighbors.
"You look out for them, and they look out for you. Everybody belongs, and everybody has a responsibility to contribute," Walz said firmly. Walz said he had "zero" political experience when he first ran for office, and no money to help him win a race.
"But you know what?" he asked. "Never underestimate a public school teacher." He discussed his record as governor, touting the progressive policies his administration established in Minnesota.
"We cut taxes for the middle class. We passed paid family and medical leave. We invested in fighting crime and affordable housing.
We made sure that every kid in our state gets breakfast and lunch every day," he said. "While other states were banning books from their schools, we were banishing hunger from ours." With a roaring crowd, Walz discussed the freedoms he stands for, including the freedom to access healthcare, the freedom to learn and the freedom "to build the kind of life they want.
" ADVERTISEMENT Going on the offensive, Walz said former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. J.D.
Vance have spent time dismissing Project 2025, but that he knows they're familiar with its contents. "When you draw up a playbook, you're going to use it," Walz said. He said it's time to move on from Trump and Vance before leading the crowd in a chant of "We're not going back.
" "As the future President Kamala Harris has always said, 'When we fight, we win,'” Walz added. Immediately following his speech, Walz was rushed by his children, Gus and Hope, who shared an emotional hug with their father. The Walz family raised their interlocked hands in the air before waving to the crowd and exiting the stage.
Ahead of Walz's speech, recognizable Democrats took the stage to express support for the Harris-Walz ticket. Former President Bill Clinton said Kamala Harris has already made her first presidential decision in picking Walz as a running mate, adding that she “knocked it out of the park” with her choice. ADVERTISEMENT “You just look at Tim Walz.
Listen to him, follow his record as a teacher, as a coach, his time in the National Guard, as a congressman ...
then stayed for a long time. Then he became governor,” Clinton said. “By all accounts, he was a crack shot among his constituents who had the courage to say we do not need these assault weapons available to people who can kill our kids in schools.
” In a video introduction, Gwen Walz said her husband has always had a commitment to country and standing up for what’s right. While teaching at the same school – in the same classroom, separated by a divider – Gwen Walz said she saw first hand how the teacher and coach inspired his students and changed lives. “Tim taught them how to believe in themselves, and that we’re all in this together,” she said.
Ahead of the video, multiple former football players who played under Walz stood on stage, pumping their fists while Mankato West High School's fight song played. In a close race in which pollsters say Harris and former President Donald Trump each have a near 50-50 shot at the White House, Clinton said it’s important for Democrats to not get distracted and keep pushing for support. “We’ve seen more than one election slip away from us, when we thought it couldn’t happen, when people get distracted by phony issues.
You should never underestimate your adversary,” he said. “These people are really good at distracting us. .
.. We’ve got to be tough.
” ADVERTISEMENT U.S. Sen.
Amy Klobuchar, a fellow Minnesota Democrat, said before Walz’s speech that Minnesotans trust Walz. "I stand before you in support of our next vice president, Tim Walz," Klobuchar said. "In Minnesota, we trust a coach that turned a team that was 0-27 into state champions.
In Minnesota, we trust a hunter who has stood in a deer stand in 10-degree weather. ..
. And I know we aren’t alone, but in Minnesota, we love a dad in plaid." Hours before Klobuchar spoke, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison addressed the convention, impressing upon attendees what he’s learned while working quite literally next to the governor for nearly two decades.
“I’ve worked side-by-side with Tim Walz for 18 years — his office is right across the hall from mine — and I see him deliver for the people of the state of Minnesota every day,” Ellison said. “Everyone knows Minnesota is one of the best states to live in, to raise a family and to do business in.” Ellison vouched for Walz and Harris’ ability to listen and work on behalf of the people.
“Kamala Harris and Tim Walz? They fight for the people, and they also listen. When they say we need a ceasefire and an end to the loss of innocent lives in Gaza? They’re listening, friends. They agree with us,” Ellison said to the applauding crowd.
“They listen, they care, and everyone is included in their circle of compassion. They believe everyone counts and everyone matters.” Other speakers for the night, which included Sec.
Pete Buttigieg and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, all pledged their support to the Harris-Walz ticket, saying it’s clear the Californian and Minnesotan are the best choices to represent the Democratic Party in the White House. ADVERTISEMENT “I had the honor of serving with Tim for 12 years in Congress.
He united Democrats, Republicans and independents to turn a red district blue. He showed courage when he came to congress in voting for the Affordable Care Act, meeting the needs of his constituents. When he returned home, he fought for our American heroes as the Democratic leader of the Veterans Affairs Committee,” Pelosi said.
“The choices couldn't be clearer. Those choices are Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz.
” Walz’s speech was one that likely satisfied some Minnesota Democrats, who, days before the speech, said they expected it to include a message of unity, as well as provide some indication of how Walz expects to implement some of Minnesota’s progressive ideology on a national scale. Beyond the presence of politicians was a mix of Minnesota faces and global stars, who kept the audience entertained between speakers. To kick off the convention’s main session, the pledge of allegiance was recited by a group of elementary school students from the Moreland Arts & Health Sciences Magnet School in St.
Paul, which the Harris campaign said benefitted from Walz’s free breakfast and lunch initiative. Immediately following, the national anthem was performed by South St. Paul Secondary School math teacher Jess Davis, who was named Minnesota’s Teacher of the Year in 2019.
In other appearances throughout the night, Stevie Wonder performed 1972 hit “Higher Ground” while John Legend and Sheila E. gave tribute to Prince, honoring Walz’s Minnesota roots. ADVERTISEMENT “Beyond prayer, I know the importance of action, and now is the time to understand where we are and what it will take to win — win the broken hearts, win the disenchanted spirits.
Now is the time,” Wonder said ahead of his performance. “We need Kamala Harris — and we need a great man as a future vice president. So, I’m depending on you to, as Spike Lee would say, do the right thing.
” Maren Morris sang her hit song “Better Than We Found It,” which includes the line “America, America, we're better than this.” Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey joked that he’d sing that line to Trump, a comment Rep.
Hakeem Jeffries of New York took one step further by saying America is “never, ever, ever getting back together” with Trump, a line derived from a Taylor Swift chart-topping pop song. Actress and producer Mindy Kaling and former “Saturday Night Live” star Keenan Thompson also spoke. Current Vice President Kamala Harris will speak Thursday night to accept the Democratic Party’s nomination for president.
It’s unclear when Walz is set to return to Minnesota..
