Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will have his big moment at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday night, where he will deliver the keynote speech and accept the party’s nomination for vice president.
Walz has been in the national spotlight for just two weeks since Vice President Kamala Harris announced him as her running mate pick earlier this month. With his prime-time speech at the DNC, Walz plans to introduce himself to America, according to the Harris-Walz campaign.
Democratic vice-presidential candidate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz does a stage check on the third day of the Democratic National Convention, in Chicago, Aug. 21, 2024.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP via Getty Images
In his remarks, the Midwesterner plans to share his biography — from growing up in a small town in Nebraska to working as a high school social studies teacher and football coach before he was elected to Congress in 2006. The convention plans to showcase his impact as an educator in a video earlier in the night featuring five of his former students, according to the campaign.
Another former student of his, Ben Ingman, will nominate Walz along with Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar, according to the campaign. Walz coached Ingman in basketball and track in the seventh grade, the campaign said.
Walz’s time as a football coach has become a major part of the image the Harris campaign is painting of him, handing out signs that read “COACH!” at rallies since he joined the ticket.
Walz will also talk about his military service, which has come under scrutiny following his selection at Harris’ running mate.
Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard at the age of 17 and retired 24 years later, prior to running for Congress. Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance has alleged Walz is guilty of “stolen valor” for the way the Democrat has referred to his service. On the campaign trail, Walz has fiercely defended his service, saying at a rally last week that he is “damn proud” of his military record.
Earlier in Wednesday’s programming, the DNC will play a short video highlighting his service in the National Guard and his commitment to improving the lives of veterans, according to the campaign. The video will include remarks from Sgt. Al Bonnifield, who served with Walz in the Minnesota National Guard, and Cpl. Mike McLaughlin, an Iraq war veteran who worked with Walz when he was in Congress on the “Forever GI” bill, which expanded veterans’ education benefits, according to the campaign.
In his DNC speech, Walz also plans to address what he will bring to the White House and what Harris will do for working families, according to the campaign.
Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her running mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz hold a campaign rally in Milwaukee, Aug. 20, 2024.
Marco Bello/Reuters
It is unclear if Walz will bring up reproductive rights. The father of two has often talked on the campaign trail about his and his wife Gwen’s fertility struggle. He has connected their experience to the bans on in vitro fertilization (IVF) put in place this past spring in Alabama and attacking Republicans over reproductive rights restrictions. He has frequently talked about their fertility journey generally, referring to IVF and treatments “like it.”
In new comments this week, Gwen Walz revealed for the first time publicly that the fertility treatment they used was intrauterine insemination, or IUI — not IVF, as had been broadly assumed.
The detail that Gwen Walz did not use IVF, but rather a different treatment, quickly led to another attack from Vance, who said that the governor “lied” and should know the difference, having been involved in the process.
In response, the Harris campaign called Vance’s attack “just another example of how cruel and out of touch Donald Trump and JD Vance are when it comes to women’s healthcare.”
Gwen Walz did address their fertility journey in a biographical video released by the Harris-Walz campaign earlier Wednesday.
“Of all the things he’s done, Tim loves being a dad,” she said. “We struggled to have kids and fertility treatments made it possible. There’s a reason our daughter is named Hope.”
Gwen Walz also highlighted the governor’s time in the military.
“His dad served during the Korean War and that meant a lot to Tim,” she said. “And so he enlisted right after his 17th birthday and served 24 years in the National Guard, rising to command sergeant major.”
The video also touched on his years as a public school teacher, coach and founding faculty adviser to a gay-straight alliance.
“His focus has always been helping working people like those he grew up with,” she said.
ABC News’ Fritz Farrow, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Will McDuffie and Isabella Murray contributed to this report.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is set to deliver a keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) this year, and anticipation is high for what he will bring to the virtual stage. As a prominent figure in the Democratic Party and a leader in his state, Walz’s speech is expected to touch on a variety of important issues facing the country today.
One of the key topics that Walz is likely to address in his speech is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As the governor of Minnesota, Walz has been at the forefront of the state’s response to the virus, implementing measures to slow its spread and protect the health and safety of Minnesotans. His experience in dealing with the pandemic will undoubtedly inform his remarks at the DNC, as he discusses the importance of following public health guidelines and working together to overcome this crisis.
In addition to COVID-19, Walz is also expected to speak about other pressing issues facing the nation, such as racial injustice and police reform. In the wake of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the subsequent protests that swept the country, Walz has been vocal about the need for meaningful change to address systemic racism and inequality. His speech at the DNC is likely to highlight the importance of addressing these issues head-on and working towards a more just and equitable society.
Furthermore, as a former member of the National Guard and a strong advocate for veterans and military families, Walz may also touch on national security and foreign policy in his speech. With tensions rising around the world and the United States facing numerous challenges on the international stage, his perspective as a veteran and a leader in his state could provide valuable insights into how to navigate these complex issues.
Overall, Tim Walz’s keynote speech at the DNC is sure to be a powerful and thought-provoking address that addresses some of the most pressing issues facing our country today. As a respected leader in the Democratic Party and a champion for progressive values, Walz’s remarks are likely to resonate with viewers and inspire them to take action in support of a better future for all Americans.
