'Health Care and Housing Are Human Rights': Walz Speaks at Democratic National Convention

CHICAGO, Ill. — After Minnesota singer Prince was honored by John Legend and a football alumni appearance at Mankato West High School, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted his nomination as vice presidential candidate Wednesday evening in Chicago.

When he took the stage to the John Mellencamp song “Small Town,” he was greeted with cheers — and tears from his sons, Gus and Hope — along with chants of “Coach, Coach,” a reference to his career as a high school teacher and football coach.

Walz, who was chosen by Vice President Kamala Harris as her running mate just weeks ago, gave his campaign speech about growing up in a town of just 400 people in Nebraska.

“I’ll tell you what, when you grow up in a small town like this, you learn to take care of each other,” he said. “The family down the road may not think like you, pray like you, love like you, but they’re your neighbors — and you take care of them, and they take care of you.”

Walz spoke about his 24 years of service in the Army National Guard and his decision to become a teacher, like many in his family, and then move on to teaching high school social studies and coaching football.

“It was these players and my students who inspired me to run for Congress,” Walz said. “They saw in me what I hoped to instill in them — a commitment to the common good … and a belief that one person can make a real difference for their neighbors.

“So here I was, a high school teacher in my 40s, with young kids, no experience, no money, running in a deep red district. But you know what? Never underestimate a public school teacher.”

He listed his accomplishments as governor, citing tax cuts for the middle class, paid family and medical leave, and free breakfast and lunch for Minnesota students.

In his speech, Walz emphasized the “freedom” theme that was raised at the conference Wednesday night, stressing the need for freedom of reproductive choice — including access to IVF and fertility treatments, which allowed Walz and his wife, Gwen, to have their children.

“I want to tell you about how we started a family because that’s a big part of this election, freedom,” Walz said. “When Republicans use the word freedom, they mean that the government should be free to invade a doctor’s office, corporations should be free to pollute the air and water, banks should be free to take advantage of customers.”

As a veteran and experienced hunter with guns, Walz also advocated for gun restrictions.

“We mean the freedom to build a better life for ourselves and the people we love, and the freedom for our children to go to school without worrying about being shot down the hall,” he said.

“We have something better to offer the American people, and that starts with our nominee, Kamala Harris,” Walz said, using Harris’s phrase, “We’re not going back.” “I think we owe it to the American people to tell them exactly what she’s going to do as president. That’s the part, click on it, save it, and send it to your unstable relatives.”

For those who are middle class or seeking to be middle class, “Kamala Harris will cut taxes for them,” Walz said, along with confronting “big pharma” to reduce prescription drug costs.

For those hoping to buy a home, Walz said, “Kamala Harris will help make it more affordable.”

He concluded his speech with a football metaphor.

“It’s the fourth quarter, we lost a field goal, but we’re on offense, we have the ball… We have 76 days, that’s nothing, there will be time to sleep when we’re dead, we’ll leave it on the field,” he said. “That’s how we’re going to keep moving forward, that’s how we’re going to turn the page on Donald Trump.

“Health care and housing are human rights, and the government never interferes in your bedroom.”

Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey speak

Walz's keynote address followed appearances by former President Bill Clinton, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and veteran Chicago talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

Clinton, whose speech ran well past the expected time, attacked Trump's age, after the Republican candidate spent months criticizing the aging President Joe Biden before dropping out of the race in July.

“Two days ago, I turned 78,” Clinton said. “The only personal ego I want to assert is that I am still younger than Donald Trump.”

Clinton praised Harris and her choice of Walz as her running mate.

As attorney general, Kamala Harris has “fought her entire life for children who have been marginalized and left behind,” Clinton said. “She has already said she will work hard to ensure that no full-time working American has to live in poverty or have to worry about their children living in poverty.”

Meanwhile, Pelosi referred to the attempted insurrection that took place on January 6, 2021.

“January 6 was a dangerous moment for our democracy,” she said. “Let’s not forget who attacked democracy on January 6 — he did it. But let’s not forget who saved democracy that day — we saved it.”

Pelosi urged voters to “reject tyranny” and choose democracy.

“The example of January 6 reminds us that the strength of our democracy is determined only by the courage and commitment of those entrusted with its care,” she said. “And the choice could not be clearer—those leaders are Vice President Harris and Governor Walz.”

Back in her old home of Chicago, Winfrey, a registered independent, urged others like her to vote for Harris.

“I call on all independents and all the hesitant to do this,” she said. “You know this is true, you know I'm telling you the truth, which is that values ​​and character are more important than anything else, in leadership and in life.”

Speaking about his life with his wife and two young children, Buttigieg — the first openly gay and bisexual person to lead a department and hold a Cabinet-level position — urged voters to “end Trump’s dark politics for everyone.”

“My family’s existence is just one example of something that was literally impossible even 25 years ago, when an anxious teenager growing up in Indiana wondered if he would ever belong in this world,” Buttigieg said. “This kind of life has gone from impossible to possible, from possible to real, from real to almost normal, in less than half a lifetime. It didn’t just happen. It happened. And in November, we will choose… and most of all, we will choose a better policy. And that’s what Kamala Harris and Tim Walz represent.”