CHICAGO — Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz and his family displayed their emotions in front of tens of millions of Americans on Wednesday in a moment that hit a soft spot for viewers across the country.
Between a video introduction recorded by Gwen Walz and the governor’s speech, those who tuned into the Democratic National Convention learned the Walz family story, stretching all the way back to when the now-VP hopeful met his wife while teaching in Nebraska.
ADVERTISEMENT
“That’s where Tim and I met — we shared a classroom with a divider right down the middle,” Gwen Walz said in the video.
Taking the stage with glossy eyes, the VP nominee explained that he and Gwen had struggled to conceive a child, and eventually used fertility treatments to assist in starting their family.
“If you've never experienced the hell that is infertility, I guarantee you, you know somebody who has,” Walz said. “I can remember praying each night for a phone call, the pit in your stomach when the phone would ring, and the absolute agony when we heard the treatments hadn't worked.”
After years of trying, Gwen was finally pregnant.
“When our daughter was born, we named her Hope,” Walz said.
With tears in her eyes, Hope, now 23, placed her hand on her chest and mouthed: “Love you.”
“Hope, Gus and Gwen — you are my entire world, and I love you,” Walz said firmly.
ADVERTISEMENT
Gus, 17, stood from his seat, also with tears, pointed at Walz, and said “I love you, that’s my dad,” before leaning into Gwen’s shoulder.
The display of familial love took the internet by storm, garnering reactions from many of the tens of millions of Americans watching in-person, on TV or online.
“You know you’ve done well as a parent when your kids are as proud of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, said on X. “‘That’s my dad.’ No three words better describe our next Vice President.”
You know you’ve done well as a parent when your kids are as proud of you as Gus and Hope are of Tim Walz. “That’s my dad.” No three words better describe our next Vice President.
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar)
“Gus Walz crying with pride watching his dad's DNC speech is the positive young male representation I want to see on national television,”
“May we all be fortunate enough to love and be loved by a child like Gus Walz,”
At the conclusion of his 15-minute speech, Walz was met on stage by Gwen, Hope and Gus, who all exchanged hugs before raising their interlocked hands to the tens of thousands in attendance.
Wednesday’s emotional speech wasn’t the first time Americans got to see an inside look at just how close the Walzes are.
ADVERTISEMENT
During a live interview on MSNBC on Monday, Hope and Gus held bunny ears over the governor’s head, prompting a public response on X.
“My kids keep me humble,”
As social media users first learned more about Walz, past social media posts featuring his children have continued to re-surface, including a video of Walz cracking jokes with Hope before screaming with joy on a slingshot-style ride at the Minnesota State Fair.
My daughter, Hope, tricked me into doing the most extreme ride at the Minnesota State Fair.
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz)
“Peak Midwestern: MN Gov. Tim Walz at the State Fair riding The Slingshot,”
Another 2020 post on Walz’s official gubernatorial account showed him, Gwen and the kids explaining what books they’re reading, saying the family was hoping to start the state’s largest book club.
Thanks for the suggestions so far!
— Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz)
Update from Gus: Tournament wrapped up, and he’s currently reading Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.
The post garnered hundreds of comments and thousands of likes.
Democratic leaders in Minnesota say the moments of togetherness the Walz family has displayed is part of what makes the governor a great addition to Kamala Harris’ campaign, as they make Walz look more like a human and less like a politician.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I think this is one of the reasons that America is falling in love with Tim Walz and Gwen and their family, and also falling in love with Vice President Harris and Doug [Emhoff] and their family,” said U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, D-MN. “They’re seeing these people as actual human beings.”
The limelight that Walz has thrust upon the Land of 10,000 Lakes is also expected to help Democrats in other races, according to Jen Schultz, a Democratic candidate running in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District.
“I think it's going to be a positive thing, because I think that [voters] will have more reason to stay in the DFL column on the ballot than they would to even cross over,” Schultz explained.
Walz’s presence on the ticket has already given fundraising in the state a boost, too.
“... [When] Kamala and Walz were [nominated], we saw a huge boost in fundraising. It's very noticeable,” Schultz continued. “I'm not talking about high rates specifically, but we did see more.”
Following the Democratic National Convention, Walz and his family are set to return home to Minnesota, according to campaign officials.
The Trust Project
