Democratic vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz leaned heavily into his Midwestern roots in his speech that wrapped up the third night of the Democratic National Convention Wednesday, painting the Harris-Walz ticket as pro-middle class, pro-freedom, and pro-neighborliness.
The night, themed “A fight for our freedoms,” also featured former President Bill Clinton, former U.S. House speaker Nancy Pelosi, celebrity Oprah Winfrey, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg as speakers on issues including the environment, abortion access, and gun violence.
“This is a big part about what this election is about: freedom. When Republicans use the word freedom, they mean that the government should be free to invade your doctor’s office, corporations free to pollute your air and water, and banks free to take advantage of customers,” Walz claimed. “But when we Democrats talk about freedom, we mean the freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people that you love, freedom to make your own healthcare decisions. And yeah, your kid’s freedom to go to school without worrying about being shot dead in the hall.”
Walz started off thanking Harris and President Joe Biden for “four years of historic leadership,” and referenced his own history serving in the National Guard for 24 years and working as a high school teacher and coach. But Walz has been widely criticized over distortiing his military record and his coaching experience.
Walz also spent 12 years in Congress and has twice been elected governor of Minnesota, where he supported expanded abortion access, taxpayer-funded school lunches for all students, and signed legislation allowing minors who identify as transgender to receive puberty blockers and gender transition surgery.
“While other states were banning books from their schools, we were banishing hunger from ours. We also protected reproductive freedom, because in Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and the personal choices they make. And even if we wouldn’t make those same choices for ourselves, we’ve got a golden rule: mind your own damn business,” Walz told the cheering crowd Wednesday.
Despite advocating for respecting personal choices, Walz has been criticized for, among other things, his COVID-era restrictions on individuals and small businesses that led to massive job losses and student learning losses.
Walz also referenced Project 2025, claiming that another Trump administration would implement extreme proposals that the Republican candidate has denied supporting.
“Some folks just don’t understand what it takes to be a good neighbor. Take Donald Trump and JD Vance – their Project 2025 will make things much, much harder for people who are just trying to live their lives,” Walz said. “And we know if these guys get back in the White House, they’ll start jacking up the cost on the middle class, they’ll repeal the Affordable Care Act, they’ll gut Social Security and Medicare, and they will ban abortion across this country.”
Trump has repeatedly denied all of these claims, pointing to 40-year high inflation under the Biden-Harris administration that still hurts middle class families, saying he’d protect Social Security and Medicare benefits despite record-high deficit spending under the current administration, and allowing states to decide their abortion policies. Trump’s vice presidential running mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, denied all of Walz’ claims in an interview with Fox News after the speech.
In contrast to Trump’s agenda, which Walz called “weird, wrong, and dangerous,” the North Star State governor presented Harris as a candidate who would embody and support middle class and Midwestern values.
“If you’re a middle class family, or a family trying to get into the middle class, Kamala Harris is gonna cut your taxes. If you’re getting squeezed by prescription drug prices, Kamala Harris is gonna take on Big Pharma. If you’re hoping to buy a home, Kamala Harris is gonna help make it more affordable,” Walz said. “And no matter who you are, Kamala Harris’s gonna stand up and fight for your freedom to live the life that you want to lead. Because that’s what we want for ourselves, and it’s what we want for our neighbors.”
Housing prices have soared under the Biden-Harris administration, critics note, with interest rates on mortgages, car loans and credit card debt significantly higher than during the Trump administration.
Prominent pro-LGBT issue groups like the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation have voiced support for Walz, and more than 25 Minnesota labor unions have endorsed him.
If Walz were to become vice president, he would become the third in the ranks of vice presidents from Minnesota. Hubert Humphrey served under Lyndon B. Johnson, and Walter Mondale under Jimmy Carter.
