Read about: Tim Walz Rallies Voters with VP Nomination: ‘We’ve Got the Winning Team’
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz took center stage at the Democratic convention in Chicago, delivering a speech that highlighted his rural roots and experience as a teacher and coach. It was a more expansive and confident address than usual for the modest Midwesterner.
“You might not know it, but I haven’t given many big speeches like this,” Walz admitted as he concluded his address on Wednesday night. “But I have given a lot of pep talks.”
Drawing from his past as a football coach, Walz used a sports metaphor to rally the crowd. “It’s the fourth quarter. We’re down by a field goal, but we’re on offense with the ball in our hands. We’re driving down the field, and we’ve got the right team. Kamala Harris is tough, she’s experienced, and she’s ready,” he said, as the crowd cheered him on.
Walz’s speech was filled with familiar themes—small-town neighborliness, lessons learned in the classroom, and public service. He walked onto the stage to John Mellencamp’s “Small Town,” with a sea of “Coach Walz” signs waving in the air. The crowd affectionately chanted “Coach” as Walz placed his hand over his heart.
Right from the start, Walz leaned into his rural upbringing. “I grew up in Butte, Nebraska, a town of 400 people. I had 24 kids in my high school class, and none of them went to Yale,” he said, taking a jab at Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance.
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He shared stories of growing up in a small town, where respecting your neighbors was essential. “We’ve got a golden rule,” he said, with the crowd finishing his sentence, “Mind your own damn business.”
Walz also addressed his military service, which has been under attack by Republicans recently, as well as his background as a public school teacher in Mankato, Minnesota, where he taught social studies and coached football. “Never underestimate a public school teacher,” he said firmly.
Like many other speakers that night, Walz emphasized the importance of freedom and pointed to the conservative agenda, Project 2025, backed by Trump allies.
“This is about our responsibility to our kids, to each other, and to the future we’re building together—a future where everyone is free to live the life they want,” Walz declared. “But not everyone shares that responsibility. Some people don’t understand what it means to be a good neighbor. Take Donald Trump and JD Vance, for example.”
“Their Project 2025 will make life much harder for those just trying to live peacefully. They pretend they don’t know about this, but trust me, as a football coach, when someone draws up a playbook, they’re going to use it,” Walz warned.
Walz’s family watched proudly, with emotional clips of his son circulating online as his father spoke.
The night was full of powerful moments, with appearances by former President Bill Clinton, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and rising Democratic stars like Maryland Governor Wes Moore and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Oprah Winfrey made a surprise appearance, urging independents to support the Harris-Walz ticket. “Values and character matter most,” Winfrey said. “And in 2024, decency and respect are on the ballot.”
Walz’s vice-presidential nomination has brought Minnesota into the national spotlight. The state, although not typically a swing state, has seen significant progressive achievements under Walz’s leadership, including universal free school meals, gun safety laws, clean energy initiatives, and child tax credits.
Minnesota’s presence was felt throughout the night, with John Legend and Sheila E performing a tribute to Prince, the iconic Minneapolis musician, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison recalling how Walz asked him to prosecute the George Floyd case. “Walz and Harris know that no one is above the law, and no one is below the law,” Ellison said.
Senator Amy Klobuchar, along with a former student and neighbor of the Walz family, introduced the governor. They were joined by players and the former head coach from Walz’s football team. “Tim Walz is the kind of guy who will push you out of a snowbank,” the former student said. “I know because Tim Walz pushed me out of a snowbank.”
Klobuchar highlighted Walz’s down-to-earth qualities, including a viral video of him changing a headlight and his reputation as a “dad in plaid.” She declared, “A former public school teacher knows how to school JD Vance.”
The evening ended with a group of elementary students from Moreland Arts & Health Sciences magnet school in St. Paul, who led the Pledge of Allegiance. These students have benefitted from the universal free school meals program championed by Walz. The national anthem was sung by Jess Davis, a math teacher named Minnesota’s teacher of the year in 2019.
After the speech, the Minnesota delegation celebrated on the convention floor, chanting Walz’s name and cheering.
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