Walz draws on humble background in accepting nomination, GOP challenge

CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz thanked the packed arena at the United Center for “bringing the joy to this fight” in officially accepting the party’s vice president nomination.

“We’re all here tonight for one beautiful, simple reason: We love this country,” Walz said in delivering the keynote address on the third night of the Democratic National Convention.

In a speech packed with football and good-neighbor metaphors, Walz came armed with a clear message: “never underestimate a public school teacher.”

The night’s theme was “A Fight For Our Freedoms,” with speakers including former president Bill Clinton, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and television personality Oprah Winfrey.

Videos played between speeches highlighting Walz’s identity — a teacher, a veteran, a husband and a father.

He spoke about his upbringing in a small Nebraska town, graduating from a class of 24 students where he remarked that “none of them went to Yale,” a dig at his Republican counterpart, vice presidential candidate and Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance.

Walz said his background taught him how to take care of others, regardless of differences, and instilled his belief that “everybody has a responsibility.”

Walz also weaved anecdotes about his personal life into his policy discussions, including an emotional moment where the governor regaled his and his wife Gwen’s experience using in-vitro fertilization. Walz also touched on how his love of hunting and life as a parent influenced his opinion on gun rights and how his father’s medical debt informed his understanding of health care for working-class Americans.

The vice-presidential candidate also spoke about his accomplishments in elected office as both governor and six-term congressman, like passing paid family leave and cutting taxes for the middle class. Walz also noted his work to cut the cost of prescription drugs and medical debt — which Walz said once nearly sank his family — and ensuring every child in the state receives breakfast and lunch in school.

“While other states were banning books from their schools, we were banishing hunger from ours,” Walz said.

In conjunction with the night’s theme and the promises of the Walz-Harris ticket, the governor said Democrats believe in the rights “to make a better life for yourself and the people that you love.”

“This election is about freedom,” Walz said. “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.”

Speaking earlier in the night, Sen. Amy Klobuchar said she and Walz “go way back,” because he taught at the high school right down the road of her husband’s hometown.

She talked about how her mother-in-law brought Walz and his wife, Gwen, a chicken dinner when their son was born because “that’s what we do in America. We look out for our neighbors.” She added that Walz has been living on those principles his whole life.

Benjamin Ingman, one of Waltz’s former students, talked about how Walz coached him during seventh grade basketball, as well as track and field — even though Walz was a high school football coach. Ingman said that the reason Walz was coaching middle school athletics was because he had heard of a student unable to afford lunch, phoned around the district and sought a way to earn extra money to buy the child lunch himself.

Walz’s speech was met with an intense energy from the crowd that remained long after he and his family walked side-by-side off the stage.

After most attendees shuffled out, the Minnesota delegation remained on the floor to hold signs and cutouts of Walz’s head to chant an iteration of Walz’s signature phrase: “sleep when dead.”