During Tim Walz’s impassioned speech at the DNC, his son Gus and daughter Hope were emotional and said: “He’s my dad”
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz made a sobbing appearance with his family on Wednesday, August 21, during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, his party’s choice as Kamala Harris’ running mate for 2024.
During the event and immediately after accepting the nomination, thousands of people clapped their hands for Walz who took the biggest stage of his political career. His children Hope and Gus and wife Gwen could not control their tears.
"That's my dad!"
Beaming with pride. Tim Walz' son's reaction is gold.
Forget the bleach, inject some of this into America!#TimWalz pic.twitter.com/uYCQBCMwEZ
— Brian Young 💗💛💙 (@bkyoun) August 22, 2024
“My father,” Gus pointed out while pointing at him on the platform. “Hope, Gus, and Gwen you make up my world,” said Walz, aged sixty from the United Center arena in Chicago to his family. He was crying when he told them this.
.@Tim_Walz’s son absolutely losing it during this speech, appearing to say, “That’s my dad” pic.twitter.com/DNyoRmIZxC
— Elizabeth Landers (@ElizLanders) August 22, 2024
On this occasion, Gus stood up and gave a moving standing ovation to his father while shedding some tears.
Walz spoke openly about seven years of IVF that preceded him being a parent; he became friends with Gwen when they were both teachers at different schools (he taught social studies while she taught English).
Walz recollected the years of absolute agony that he endured alongside his wife during numerous reproductive treatments. “There is no way you have never suffered through it; you definitely know someone who has,” he continued.
Tim and Gwen discussed their son Gus’ diagnosis with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorder as well as non-verbal learning difficulties earlier last month in PEOPLE magazine.
“We were just like many other American families – we had to figure out how best to support Gus growing up into an adult,” they told PEOPLE Magazine together. It felt very close.
“But what was quickly revealed to us over time was that instead of a shortcoming, it’s actually his ‘secret power,’” added both parents.
The VP nominee went after Republican foes J.D Vance as well as Donald Trump in a long speech where he presented ideas for a Harris-Walz administration.” In reference to the plans of Trump and Vance, Walz stated that “it’s not for anyone” it is just a few “wealthiest and most radical.” “Sounds strange? Yes.”
Walz has been with his running mate Harris for less than a month since she chose him in 2024. She added her running companion on August 6th.
“One of the things that really struck me about Tim was how deeply he feels about fighting for middle class families,” she said in a statement when asked to explain her choice. It is personal.
“We are looking forward to an extraordinary partnership,” concluded the statement. “Even though as far as I am concerned we may be underdogs initially, I do believe that working together, we can win this election.”
A few hours later, the two appeared together at Temple University in Philadelphia for their first joint campaign rally where Harris explained why she had chosen Walz whose governorship commenced in 2018 and ended in 2022.
“My intention was to get someone who would be my partner through all these years,” Harris told us right away after announcing my candidacy. “A leader who could unite our country and move us forward.” One word differentiates between him and ordinary people; he is a person of integrity – one who shares my belief in America’s great potential, which is about justice and liberty, not just some privileged people.
“Dance to the beat of the tides, this is why I am in Pennsylvania with Governor Tim Walz whom I believe can provide such leadership in Minnesota!” Harris continued.
Walz has had experiences as a national guardsman, high school football coach, and teacher aside from being a seasoned politician and “leader” according to Harris. Harris shared his time at Temple discussing public education which involved stories about how Walz helped one of his students create a Gay-Straight Alliance chapter.
Before winning the 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election, the vice presidential candidate successfully ran for U.S. Congress as a Democrat in a district that had previously supported the Republican party in 2006.
After being re-elected in 2022, Walz has enacted laws defending Minnesotans’ right to an abortion, legalized marijuana, and responded to demands for police reform. Early on during Harris’ search for a running mate however, Walz was able to characterize some far-right Republican ideas as “weird,” also pointing out that Vance’s ideology does not resonate with rural Americans.
