Chicago/Washington — Tim Walz, Kamala Harris’s pick for vice president, will formally receive his nomination at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago later today, amid a tense and decisive phase of the election season.
As governor of Minnesota, Walz, who is also a military veteran and a labor union supporter, has been instrumental in pushing a progressive agenda in his state. That includes broad abortion rights and significant support for family assistance programs.
On the third night of the convention, an event that will also feature a speech by former President Bill Clinton, Walz will officially take the stage. The focus of the evening will be on defending freedoms that have been under attack during previous Republican terms, such as unfettered access to abortion and health care.
This topic is among the most pressing and controversial in the United States today and is expected to influence many voters in the upcoming election. Analysts and activists, according to Voice of America reports, suggest that Harris’s rise in the Democratic Party has energized a demographic eager to strengthen reproductive rights.
Walz’s speech is expected to convey the passion and zeal he has demonstrated throughout his tenure, most evident when he orchestrated a record $500 million funding round within a month of President Joe Biden’s approval of Harris as his successor.
His commitment did not go unnoticed, so much so that he earned the support of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the oldest Latino civil rights organization in the United States, which for the first time supported a presidential candidate thanks to its alliance with Vice President Harris.
Juan Proaño, executive director of LULAC, told Voice of America that their support was crucial, given the stark contrast between the two major parties in their engagement with the Latino community. “The decision was clear after considerable reflection,” Proaño said.
However, not all the feedback has been positive. Republican critics have targeted Walz for allegedly misrepresenting his military service. Congressman Mike Waltz questioned Walz’s integrity in a press conference before the DNC, challenging his fitness for the vice presidency.
Meanwhile, outside the DNC’s secure perimeter, peace protests in Gaza have grown. More than 70 people were arrested after a demonstration near the Israeli consulate turned confrontational. The protest, which called for an end to U.S. military support for Israel, saw intense interactions with law enforcement.
As the DNC gets underway, expect high-profile speeches, including from President Joe Biden, who has shown unwavering support for Harris. The convention promises to be a mix of robust debates and emotional moments, setting the stage for the final stretch of the campaign.
