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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz traveled to Grand Rapids Thursday evening for his first solo visit as Vice President Kamala Harris’ vice presidential pick. Hundreds of community members gathered inside the Grand Rapids Public Museum to hear Walz and other Democratic Party members speak about the recent presidential debate and the importance of voting in November.
Walz’s trip to Grand Rapids was part of a four-day campaign tour through the swing states of North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin following the Sept. 10 presidential debate between Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Grand Rapids is located in Kent County, which has shifted from largely red to a battleground district in recent years. This election season, it has become a key focus of both presidential campaigns. On July 20, Trump visited Grand Rapids for his first campaign rally after surviving an assassination attempt, and in August, he also made an appearance in Howell.
Robert Dean, former state representative for the 75th District, gave the opening remarks at Thursday’s rally. In his speech, Dean said the Harris-Walz campaign provides a promising vision for the future of America.
“Harris and Tim Walz talk about a new way forward,” Dean said. “When they talk about their plan for a strong democracy, a fair economy and a country where our rights and freedoms are protected, when they lay out a fight or vision for the future, their eyes are looking straight ahead.”
Other speakers at the rally included Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss, state Rep. Carol Glanville, D-Grand Rapids, and State Sen. Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer commended Harris’ performance at Tuesday’s presidential debate and highlighted Walz’s accomplishments as governor of Minnesota. During his tenure as governor, Walz provided free breakfast and lunch for all students at Minnesota public schools, invested $300 million into public safety measures and signed abortion protections into law.
“In Minnesota, he delivered results again and again and again (with) the biggest investment in fixing their damn roads to free school meals for every public school student, protections for abortion rights, expansion on workers rights and so much more,” Whitmer said.
Whitmer said Walz and Harris both exemplify Midwestern values.
“Most of all, Tim is a fundamentally good person,” Whitmer said. “He shows up. He works hard. He can laugh at himself. He’s just like us. Both he and Kamala Harris understand our lives because they live lives like ours. They grew up in the middle class, worked hourly jobs just like we did. They care for sick family members, just like we have.”
Whitmer said Michigan voters could be the deciding factor in the outcome of the November election and emphasized the relatively small number of votes that delivered Trump’s victory in the state in 2016.
“In 2016, Trump won this state by just less than 11,000 votes,” Whitmer said. “He won by 10,704 votes. That’s two votes per precinct. We control the outcome of this election. The world is counting on us. … Our Democratic candidates for the Michigan House are counting on us. Tim Walz and Kamala Harris are counting on us.”
Following an introduction from LSA junior Mariah Stewart, Walz came on stage. During his speech, he recapped the presidential debate and said he sees it as evidence that Harris is fit to win the presidential race.
“There was one person on that stage who should be the next President of the United States,” Walz said. “She commanded the room, and I know all of us are incredibly proud of Vice President Harris. But let’s be very clear, none of us were surprised at what happened there. No one has come more experienced in this job than she has, and no one has done more damage than Donald Trump has.”
During his comments on the debate, Walz said Trump’s presidential agenda was based on Project 2025, a conservative initiative developed by The Heritage Foundation that lays out policies and plans for a second Trump term.
Walz also criticized the price gouging of drugs like insulin, which Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act capped at $35 for Medicare users, and said a Harris presidency would maintain efforts to lower the cost of medicine.
“In the richest country on Earth, it is an absolute disgrace that folks have to ration their drugs because they can’t afford them because trust me, Big Pharma is doing just fine,” Walz said. “We need to make sure that folks get their insulin at $35 each and get the drugs that they need.”
Walz also reaffirmed the Harris-Walz campaign’s positions on issues including their support for workers’ rights, an increase in manufacturing jobs and the restoration of national protections for abortion. The candidates — who are both gun owners — have also promised to fight for stricter firearm laws.
In his speech, Walz noted the Sept. 4 shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia and the February 2023 shooting at Michigan State University.
“I’m a veteran, I’m a hunter,” Walz said. “Kamala Harris is a gun owner by the way. … We support the Second Amendment, but our first responsibility is keeping our children safe.”
Heather Mayle, who attended the event, is an alum of Mankato West High School in Mankato, Minn., where Walz and his wife Gwen taught for two decades. In an interview with The Daily, Mayle said she believes that Walz’s background as an educator connects him to the general public.
“He is the perfect person to be a vice president,” Mayle said. “We need real people that understand our real values of education, women’s health care and just being a good neighbor.”
Daily Staff Reporter Eilene Koo can be reached at ekoo@umich.edu.
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