CHICAGO 鈥� 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.
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"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."
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."
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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."
Going on the offensive, he noted that former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance have spent time dismissing Project 2025, a Heritage Foundation publication that serves as a blueprint of sorts for Republicans to overhaul the executive branch.
Walz said he doesn't buy the distance the Republican ticket is attempting to create from the publication, saying he believes they're familiar with it's 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,'鈥� 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.
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The big moment for Minnesota's governor comes just weeks after Harris called on him to serve as her running mate. Since then, he's traveled across the country in a "whirlwind," visiting battleground states like Wisconsin and Michigan and attending campaign fundraisers in California and New York.
Even in the midst of the DNC, Walz took the short journey north from Chicago on Tuesday for a rally in Milwaukee, where the Harris campaign filled two venues simultaneously.
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 鈥渒nocked it out of the park鈥� with her choice.
鈥淵ou 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 鈥� then stayed for a long time. Then he became governor,鈥� Clinton said. 鈥淏y 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.鈥�
In a video introduction, Gwen Walz said her husband has always had a commitment to country and standing up for what鈥檚 right.
While teaching at the same school 鈥� in the same classroom, separated by a divider 鈥� Gwen Walz said she saw first hand how the teacher and coach inspired his students and changed lives.
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鈥淭im taught them how to believe in themselves, and that we鈥檙e all in this together,鈥� she said.
Ahead of the video, multiple former football players who played under Walz stood on stage, pumping their fists while Mankato West High 歪歪漫画'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鈥檚 important for Democrats to not get distracted and keep pushing for support.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen more than one election slip away from us, when we thought it couldn鈥檛 happen, when people get distracted by phony issues. You should never underestimate your adversary,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese people are really good at distracting us. 鈥� We鈥檝e got to be tough.鈥�
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a fellow Minnesota Democrat, said before Walz鈥檚 speech that Minnesotans trust the governor.
"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鈥檛 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鈥檚 learned while working quite literally next to the governor for nearly two decades.
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鈥淚鈥檝e worked side-by-side with Tim Walz for 18 years 鈥� his office is right across the hall from mine 鈥� and I see him deliver for the people of the state of Minnesota every day,鈥� Ellison said. 鈥淓veryone knows Minnesota is one of the best states to live in, to raise a family and to do business in.鈥�
Ellison vouched for Walz and Harris鈥� ability to listen and work on behalf of the people.
鈥淜amala 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鈥檙e listening, friends. They agree with us,鈥� Ellison said to the applauding crowd. 鈥淭hey listen, they care, and everyone is included in their circle of compassion. They believe everyone counts and everyone matters.鈥�
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鈥檚 clear the Californian and Minnesotan are the best choices to represent the Democratic Party in the White House.
鈥淚 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,鈥� Pelosi said. 鈥淭he choices couldn't be clearer. Those choices are Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz.鈥�
Walz鈥檚 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鈥檚 progressive ideology on a national scale.
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Jen Schultz, a Democratic candidate for U.S. House who aims to unseat third-term Republican Rep. Pete Stauber, said Walz's speech was an opportunity for Americans to learn about how the vice presidenital nominee treats others.
"All Minnesotans should be proud that our governor, Tim Walz, is the candidate for Vice President of the United States. He will help Vice President Kamala Harris lead our nation toward a better future filled with decency, common sense, respect, joy, hope and freedom," Schultz said in a texted statement. "People can relate to him, they like him, he鈥檚 your neighbor, your teacher and your coach. The nation learned that Walz will push you out of a snow bank, help you change a headlight and bring you a hot dish. They learned that Walz knows how to bring a team together. And they learned that Walz will defend our country and will fight for all of us."
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鈥檚 main session, the pledge of allegiance was recited by a group of elementary school students from the Moreland Arts & Health Sciences Magnet 歪歪漫画 in St. Paul, which the Harris campaign said benefitted from Walz鈥檚 free breakfast and lunch initiative.
Immediately following, the national anthem was performed by South St. Paul Secondary 歪歪漫画 math teacher Jess Davis, who was named Minnesota鈥檚 Teacher of the Year in 2019.
In other appearances throughout the night, Stevie Wonder performed 1972 hit 鈥淗igher Ground鈥� while John Legend and Sheila E. gave tribute to Prince, honoring Walz鈥檚 Minnesota roots.
鈥淏eyond prayer, I know the importance of action, and now is the time to understand where we are and what it will take to win 鈥� win the broken hearts, win the disenchanted spirits. Now is the time,鈥� Wonder said ahead of his performance. 鈥淲e need Kamala Harris 鈥� and we need a great man as a future vice president. So, I鈥檓 depending on you to, as Spike Lee would say, do the right thing.鈥�
Maren Morris sang her hit song 鈥淏etter Than We Found It,鈥� which includes the line 鈥淎merica, America, we're better than this.鈥� Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey joked that he鈥檇 sing that line to Trump, a comment Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York took one step further by saying America is 鈥渘ever, ever, ever getting back together鈥� with Trump, a line derived from a Taylor Swift chart-topping pop song.
Actress and producer Mindy Kaling and former 鈥淪aturday Night Live鈥� star Keenan Thompson also spoke.
Current Vice President Kamala Harris will speak Thursday night to accept the Democratic Party鈥檚 nomination for president. It鈥檚 unclear when Walz is set to return to Minnesota.
The Trust Project
