Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic candidate for vice president, addresses the Wisconsin delegation to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19, 2024. (Photo by Jacob Fischler/States Newsroom)
CHICAGO –– Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic candidate for vice president, made a surprise appearance at a Democratic National Convention breakfast program for the delegation from Wisconsin — one of a handful of battleground states — to encourage attendees to continue their hard campaign push to the Nov. 5 election.
Repeating a refrain from his short time on the campaign trail so far, Walz urged the Wisconsinites to sprint to Election Day to elect Vice President Kamala Harris. She is scheduled to deliver an acceptance speech as the party’s presidential nominee Thursday evening.
“We’ve got 78 days of hard work,” Walz said. “We can sleep when we’re dead.”
Harris’ entrance into the race less than a month ago — following President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw — has energized Democrats, leading to a flurry of new volunteers signing up for the campaign, Walz said.
Walz told the crowd to focus not only on defeating former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, but to take motivation from their own agenda.
“It’s not just beating those guys,” Walz said. “It’s about the idea of the things that we believe in, whether it’s democracy or freedom or the strength of our public schools.”
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore sounded a similar tone in his remarks to the delegation.
“The reason we are all fired up … is not because we are afraid of the alternative,” Moore said. “We don’t need to spend any more time talking about how dangerous that alternative is. The reason that we are going to fight, the reason that we are going to win, is not because we are afraid of the alternative, it is because we are so hopeful and so optimistic about what the future is going to be like in a Harris-Walz administration.”
A Democratic administration would address housing insecurity, child poverty and gun violence, Moore said.
The message of Democratic unity resonated with Michael Jones, a Wisconsin delegate and special education teacher in Madison.
“While we all understand how terrible the alternative is, we’re not just talking about that, but we’re also talking about the joy and the positivity of when we come together,” he said.
Swing state
Speakers noted the importance of Wisconsin as one of a handful of toss-up states in the presidential election.
“You know what you have to do,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul told the group. “The nation is counting on you.”
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers told reporters, following his prepared remarks, that Democrats in the state would work to turn out voters in the presidential election.
“That’s our job,” he said. “We can’t expect Tim Walz or Kamala Harris to be showing up in Wisconsin every day. So we’re going to do it.”
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York also addressed the delegation, saying Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s reelection race was critical to retaining a Democratic majority in the chamber.
“We can’t keep the Senate without” Baldwin winning, he said.
Schumer promoted Baldwin’s work in the Senate, including on a bipartisan bill to promote microchips manufacturing.
Education a top issue
The drop-in from Walz energized delegates, including Terri Wenkman, from Jefferson, Wisconsin.
“I was excited most about the surprise visit from Tim Walz,” Wenkman, a former school board member, said. “Public education is a huge piece for me, so the selection of somebody that was a public school teacher and a true huge advocate for public education, I really identify with that.”
Wenkman added that Walz’s message to drive hard to the finish line resonated, saying that the shortened campaign season may benefit Democrats.
Walz’s background as a high school teacher and football coach came through in his delivery, Jones said.
Evers, also a former teacher and state schools superintendent, made a reference during his prepared remarks to Walz’s teaching career.
“We know what happens when we elect teachers,” he said.
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