[ad_1]
Editor’s Note: Audrey Clayton is a former Daily staffer. Clayton did not contribute to the reporting of this article.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) visited the University of Michigan Saturday to mobilize young voters and watch the football game against the University of Minnesota.
Walz and his wife Gwen Walz arrived at Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti at 9:45 a.m. They were greeted by about 30 U-M students, waving American flags and holding signs that said “Wolverines for Harris Walz” and “Students for Harris Walz.” Other greeters included Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, Wayne County Deputy Executive Assad Turfe, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor and Ypsilanti Mayor Nicole Brown.
U.S. House Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Ann Arbor) said that because Michigan is a key battleground state in the November general election, Michiganders need to stay vigilant and take action.
“No one is winning this state right now,” Dingell said. “We are a purple state. Donald Trump hasn’t won this state and Kamala Harris hasn’t won this state. We cannot take one thing for granted, from now until Election Day.”
Public Policy senior Audrey Clayton, co-president of Students for Harris At The University of Michigan, told The Michigan Daily that she coordinated with the One Campaign for Michigan, a youth and campus mobilization campaign, to get students the opportunity to meet Walz when he landed.
“It was an incredible experience for myself and for everyone,” Clayton said. “It really meant a lot that the governor was so committed to take the time to talk to students. He took the time to introduce himself to everybody there and talk about the game, about football, about voting, about what they cared about as much as he could during that time. I think that meant a lot and showed our students how much the Harris-Walz campaign cares about the youth vote.”
Clayton said that while much of the Students for Harris membership attended, it was important to invite students who did not yet know who they were voting for.
“We made sure to invite students who were maybe on the fence about who to vote for or whether to vote at all,” Clayton said. “The opportunity for them to have this connection with a vice presidential nominee was a huge opportunity and very motivational.”
Clayton told The Daily that she greeted Walz as he came off of the plane and was able to have a brief conversation with him.
“He wanted to talk about football and how excited he was to be at the Big House,” Clayton said. “He talked to me about what the energy was on campus and how students felt about the election and voting. He was incredibly personable, very charming and a great person to connect with.”
Walz shook hands and took selfies with students while emphasizing the importance of voting in the upcoming election.
“I’m excited to be in the Big House,” Walz said. “I’m excited to watch this incredible game. I’m more excited to see young people excited about their future and getting ready to vote.”
The former public school teacher and football coach’s visit is the third to the state since joining the Harris-Walz ticket. Walz stopped in Grand Rapids and East Lansing earlier this month as part of the campaign’s New Way Forward tour.
The motorcade headed to the stadium for the noon kickoff shortly after Walz’s arrival. On the way they stopped by a tailgate in the parking lot to take pictures and shake hands with fans before heading into the Big House.
Once on the field, Walz and his wife spoke and took pictures with Minnesota football coach PJ Fleck and the University of Minnesota cheerleaders before heading to their suite to watch the game with family.
Daily Staff Reporter Abby Harris can be reached at abigailx@umich.edu.
Related articles
[ad_2]
Source link
