DNC 2024 Day 3 live updates: Walz tells Democrats to 'leave it on the field'

The third night of the Democratic National Convention continued the themes of joy and freedom.

A who's who of speakers, including a surprise speech from Oprah Winfrey, headlined the night aimed to showcase vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

"Coach Walz" brought his energy to the crowd touting his and Vice President Kamala Harris' vision for the future of the country.

SLIDESHOW: Photos: 2024 Democratic National Convention

Latest Developments

_{Aug 22, 12:42 AM}

Neil Young personally gave campaign permission to use his song for Walz's walkout

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Neil Young personally gave the Harris campaign permission to use his song "Rockin' in the Free World" as Gov. Tim Walz’s walkout song at the DNC, a Harris campaign official confirmed to ABC News.

The song is one of Walz's personal favorites and he chose it himself.

Young sued Trump during the 2020 election to bar Trump from using his music at his rallies. Young later dropped the lawsuits.

ABC News' Molly Nagle and Fritz Farrow

_{Aug 22, 12:02 AM}

Uncommitted delegates stage sit-in outside arena

A group of uncommitted delegates staged a sit-in outside the United Center Wednesday after they claimed they were denied a request to have a Palestinian speaker make a speech at the DNC.

"Our party’s platform states that every life is valuable: whether American, Palestinian, or Israeli. We will conduct a moral act of sitting in at the Convention to push our party to align our actions, instead of just our words, with the notion that every life is valuable by simply allowing a Palestinian American to speak from the stage," the group said in a statement posted on X .

_{Aug 21, 11:59 PM}

Booker's favorite speech

Just asked Sen. Cory Booker (who presided over the session today) what his highlight was. He seemed to think it through a second and then smiled: "The last speech!"

-ABC News' Rick Klein

_{Aug 21, 11:54 PM}

A home run for DNC's chair

DNC Chair Jaime Harrison just caught my eye and pantomimed a big swing -- then pointed to where he imagined the ball was hit. It looked like a home run of a night to him.

-ABC News' Rick Klein

_{Aug 21, 11:53 PM}

Harris called Walz ahead of DNC speech: 'Enjoy the moment'

Harris shared a video on social media of a phone call between her and Walz earlier Wednesday ahead of his DNC speech and told him to “enjoy the moment.”

“You’re gonna be fantastic tonight,” Harris told Walz.

“I’m ready," he said.

-ABC News' Fritz Farrow

_{Aug 21, 11:52 PM}

Walz did his job in his convention speech.

He touted his own background, rattling through his experience in the Army National Guard and as a high school teacher.

"It was those players and my students who inspired me to run for Congress. They saw in me what I hoped to instill in them: a commitment to the common good," he said.

He also promoted his policy accomplishments, garnering particularly loud applause for his policy providing free breakfast and lunch in Minnesota public schools.

Walz said that while Republicans were banning books in schools, "we were banishing hunger in ours."

And then, he served the duty of a loyal No. 2 -- boosting his boss.

"If you're a middle class family or a family trying to get into the middle class, Kamala Harris is going to cut your taxes," he said. "If you're hoping to buy a home, Kamala Harris is going to help make it more affordable."

And then, in true "Friday Night Lights" fashion, he issued a call to action with a football metaphor.

"We're down a field goal, but we're on offense and we've got the ball," he said before touting Harris as the team leader. "We're driving down the field, and boy, do we have the right team."

_{Aug 21, 11:51 PM}

Walz's son in tears during speech

As Walz gave his acceptance speech, his son Gus was spotted in tears listening to his father speak. His daughter Hope was seen holding up a heart to him.

The Walz family joined him on stage after he wrapped up his remarks.

_{Aug 21, 11:45 PM}

Walz tells Democrats to 'leave it on the field'

"We got 76 days. That's nothing. There'll be time to sleep when you're dead," he said to cheers. "We’re gonna leave it all on the field. That’s how we’ll keep moving forward."

_{Aug 21, 11:43 PM}

Walz wants you to clip this message and send it to 'undecided' relatives

"I think we owe it to the American people to tell them exactly what she'd do as president before we ask them for their votes," he said. "So here’s the part you clip and save and send to that undecided relatives."

Walz continued, "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 the price of your prescription drugs, 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. And no matter who you are, Kamala Harris is gonna stand up and fight for your freedom to live the life you want to lead."

_{Aug 22, 12:03 AM}

Walz turns his attention to 'weird' Trump and Vance

After focusing on his own biography, Walz turned to skewering Trump and Vance -- and brought back the phrase that made him go viral during the veepstakes: "weird."

"Here's the thing. It’s an agenda that nobody asked for," he said of the Trump-Vance platform. "It’s an agenda that serves nobody but the richest people and the most extreme voices in our country. An agenda that does nothing for our neighbors in need."

"Is it weird? Absolutely," he said. "But it's also wrong."

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