CHICAGO 鈥� In the midst of a busy schedule at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), delegates and Democrats from Minnesota are still finding time to rally amongst themselves.
Each morning of the four-day gathering, Minnesota鈥檚 delegation gathers for a breakfast meeting. But it鈥檚 not the food that鈥檚 getting Minnesotans going for the day 鈥� it鈥檚 a series of fiery speeches from notable politicians from the Land of 10,000 Lakes and beyond.
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鈥淭his is what gets everybody going for the whole day, being at these breakfasts, hearing these speakers, getting excited,鈥� said Minneapolis lawyer Charles Nauen. 鈥淗ow many standing ovations were there? Six or eight? You get to meet people, you get to hear people, you get to get excited.鈥�
Monday鈥檚 breakfast featured Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, both of whom spoke to Walz鈥檚 record as to why he鈥檚 the best running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris.
鈥淗e gets that when you have power, you use it to do something,鈥� Klobuchar said.
She credited the Walz administration with advancing the state鈥檚 largest middle-class tax cut, which imposed higher tax rates on some of Minnesota鈥檚 higher-income homes and businesses. Klobuchar also touted Walz for passing stronger family leave policies, providing students with free lunches and more.
鈥淒uring COVID, we had lunches for our kids. 鈥� He got it passed into law,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e got passed into law the best paid family leave policy in the United States of America. He did all that.鈥�
Flanagan used her speech to cover the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party鈥檚 (DFL) record on increasing wages, making childcare accessible to more Minnesotans and more, calling on Minnesota Democrats to continue fighting in every election, whether local, state or federal.
鈥淲hen we fight, we win,鈥� Flanagan said.
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If the Harris-Walz ticket were to win over former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Flanagan would be promoted to serve as Minnesota鈥檚 governor, which DNC officials say would make her the highest-ranking Native American woman in elected office in the country.
Others who spoke during Monday鈥檚 breakfast include DFL Chairman Ken Martin, Attorney General Keith Ellison, USDA Sec. Tom Vilsack, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-MO, and Rev. Michael Blake.
According to DFL spokesman Darwin Forsyth, the speaker lineup for each morning鈥檚 breakfast will be 鈥渁 moving target鈥� until the breakfasts begin.
Though he didn鈥檛 provide any names, Nauen teased who may be to come.
鈥淭here鈥檚 going to be some very big national names,鈥� he said.
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