--- title: Tim Walz Just Showed Why Kamala Harris Picked Him description: Walz delivered an effective DNC speech that was inclusive and often seemed to exude common-sense. canonical: https://time.com/7013789/tim-walz-dnc-guns/ author: Philip Elliott article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2024-08-22T05:07:43.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-19T07:46:08.691Z article:section: Politics og:title: Tim Walz Just Showed Why Kamala Harris Picked Him og:description: Walz delivered an effective DNC speech that was inclusive and often seemed to exude common-sense. og:url: https://time.com/7013789/tim-walz-dnc-guns/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9ef08f8cd3210da9/698a5a23457a52d94dd6aaa6/GettyImages-2167069348.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: Day Three Of The 2024 Democratic National Convention og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Tim Walz Just Showed Why Kamala Harris Picked Him twitter:description: Walz delivered an effective DNC speech that was inclusive and often seemed to exude common-sense. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9ef08f8cd3210da9/698a5a23457a52d94dd6aaa6/GettyImages-2167069348.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 05:58 video:published: 2024-08-22 section: politics topics: Democratic National Convention, vice presidential nomination, public school teachers, freedom, Second Amendment, gun safety, Project 2025, reproductive freedom, IVF and fertility treatments, school hunger, book bans, 2024 election genre: speech, political address tones: rousing, upbeat, combative, humorous, urgent emotions: enthusiasm (high), determination (high), humor (medium), concern (medium), pride (medium) sentiment: positive audience: Democratic voters, convention attendees, US voters, political news followers people: Tim Walz, Donald Trump, JD Vance, Kamala Harris organizations: Democratic National Convention, Republican Party, Democratic Party content_suitability: politics [00:08-05:48]; violence [02:10-02:36]; health controversy [04:12-04:44]; profanity [04:31-05:14] transcript_source: publisher captions transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # Tim Walz Just Showed Why Kamala Harris Picked Him > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=78c4f1b5-0dc8-46a7-afd0-e0f6698591e1&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Weekdays | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Weekly | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Twice a week | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=78c4f1b5-0dc8-46a7-afd0-e0f6698591e1&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=78c4f1b5-0dc8-46a7-afd0-e0f6698591e1&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (health, weekdays), Worth Your Time (culture, weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, twice weekly), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=78c4f1b5-0dc8-46a7-afd0-e0f6698591e1&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: ‘Never Underestimate a Public School Teacher’: Key Moments from Tim Walz’s DNC Speech [Watch (HLS stream): ‘Never Underestimate a Public School Teacher’: Key Moments from Tim Walz’s DNC Speech](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Twy35LVp.m3u8) (5:58)  _Published 2024-08-22. Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz gave a rousing 14-minute psych-up speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday night. The former high school teacher and football coach turned Minnesota governor tapped into his experience revving up players on the field to encourage Democrats to help Vice President Kamala Harris beat former President Donald Trump in the November election._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary This video presents excerpts from Tim Walz's speech accepting the vice presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention. He draws on his background as a teacher, coach, veteran and hunter to describe what he sees as shared values and a commitment to neighbors. He contrasts Democratic and Republican views of freedom, criticizes Project 2025, and cites Minnesota policies on school meals and reproductive freedom. He closes with a call to action for the 76 days remaining before the election. ## Key points - Walz says students and players he coached inspired him to run for Congress, and that they saw in him a commitment to the common good. (00:48) - He describes running as a 40-something high school teacher with little kids, zero political experience, and no money in a deep red district. (01:14) - Walz says that when Republicans say freedom, they mean government free to invade doctor's offices, corporations free to pollute, and banks free to take advantage of customers. (01:33) - He says Democrats mean freedom to make a better life, to make health care decisions, and for kids to go to school without fear of being shot. (01:54) - Walz says he is a veteran, hunter and dad who believes in the Second Amendment but that the first responsibility is keeping kids safe. (02:21) - He says Trump and JD Vance pretend to know nothing about Project 2025, and that anyone who draws up a playbook is going to use it. (02:57) - Walz says Minnesota banished hunger from its schools while other states banned books, and protected reproductive freedom including IVF and fertility treatments. (03:59) - He says there are 76 days until the election and calls on supporters to leave everything on the field. (04:44) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:48] Accepting the nomination and thanking supporters. Walz accepts the vice presidential nomination, says everyone is there because they love the country, and thanks the crowd for their passion, determination and joy. - [00:48 to 01:33] From students and players to Congress. Walz explains that his players and students inspired his run for Congress and recounts running as a teacher with no political experience in a deep red district. - [01:33 to 02:21] Defining freedom: Republicans versus Democrats. Walz contrasts how Republicans and Democrats use the word freedom, covering health care decisions and school safety. - [02:21 to 02:57] Guns, hunting and keeping kids safe. Walz cites his experience as a veteran, hunter and dad, saying he supports the Second Amendment but prioritizes keeping children safe. - [02:57 to 03:59] Criticizing Trump, Vance and Project 2025. Walz criticizes Project 2025 as an agenda nobody asked for that serves the richest and most extreme, calling it weird, wrong and dangerous. - [03:59 to 04:44] Minnesota's record on schools and reproductive freedom. Walz describes Minnesota banishing school hunger and protecting reproductive freedom, including IVF and fertility treatments. - [04:44 to 05:58] Closing call to fight for 76 days. Walz urges supporters to give everything over the final 76 days, describes the country he wants to build, and ends with a call-and-response chant. ## Key quotes - [01:27] Tim Walz: "Never underestimate a public school teacher." - [04:31] Tim Walz: "Mind your own damn business." - [00:21] Tim Walz: "We're all here tonight for one beautiful, simple reason." - [03:29] Tim Walz: "It's an agenda nobody asked for." - [03:59] Tim Walz: "So while other states were banning books from their schools," ## Questions this video answers - What inspired Tim Walz to run for Congress? [00:48] - How does Walz say Democrats and Republicans define freedom differently? [01:33] - What is Walz's position on guns and the Second Amendment? [02:21] - What does Walz say about Project 2025? [02:57] - What policies does Walz cite from Minnesota? [03:59] - How many days does Walz say remain until the election? [04:44] ## Content suitability - politics [00:08-05:48]: Partisan campaign speech at a political convention that criticizes Republicans, Donald Trump and JD Vance and urges support for Democrats. - violence [02:10-02:36]: Refers to children being shot dead in school hallways and discusses guns, hunting and the Second Amendment. - health controversy [04:12-04:44]: Discusses reproductive freedom, abortion-related choices, IVF and fertility treatments. - profanity [04:31-05:14]: Uses mild profanity: 'damn' and 'hell'.  by [Philip Elliott](https://time.com/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott Senior Correspondent Aug 22, 2024 5:07 AM UTC Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz gave a rousing 14-minute psych-up speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday night. The former high school teacher and football coach turned Minnesota governor tapped into his experience revving up players on the field to encourage Democrats to help Vice President Kamala Harris beat former President Donald Trump in the November election.  by [Philip Elliott](https://time.com/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott Senior Correspondent Aug 22, 2024 5:07 AM UTC _This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIME’s politics newsletter. Sign up_ [_here_](https://cloud.newsletters.time.com/signup?nln=dc-brief&source=dc%5Fonsite) _to get stories like this sent to your inbox._ If there were doubts why Kamala Harris tapped an upper-Plains State Governor who 7-in-10 Americans recently [held](https://ca.news.yahoo.com/poll-shows-josh-shapiro-mark-121812010.html) zero opinion of as her running mate, his speech before tens of thousands of Democrats late Wednesday indicated why he made the cut. Inclusive, at times post-partisan, and persistently exuding common-sense with the best of the Midwest’s offerings, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s turn at the Democratic convention showed that Harris considered the broadest field in picking perhaps the darkest of horses to [join](https://time.com/7001028/why-joe-biden-stepped-down/) her at the top of the ticket. A former state champion football coach and a senior National Guardsman, Walz as the VP pick is the [avatar](https://time.com/7008252/tim-walz-kamala-harris-pick/) of the kind of national security liberal that liberals have been [seeking](https://time.com/4420619/tim-kaine-guns-women-voters/) for more than two decades, one who is at ease conveying to the country that a strong defense is not the providence solely of Republicans and that Democrats, too, know how to [aim](https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/tim-walz-governing-record-vice-president-87ea3660) and fire a gun. “Look, I know guns. I’m a veteran. I’m a hunter. And I was a better shot than most Republicans in Congress, and I’ve got the trophies to prove it,” Walz [said](https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/walz-touts-responsible-gun-ownership-during-dnc-speech-217730629924) in Chicago. The efficient, conversational speech came as a capstone to a whirlwind reboot of the Democratic ticket. Given a free hand to restage the next steps for her Democratic Party, Harris chose to go with a plain-spoken former high school teacher as her running mate, a move that seemed as sage as it was savvy when Walz took the stage at the end of Wednesday’s session at Chicago’s United Center. “Kamala Harris is tough. Kamala Harris is experienced. Kamala Harris is ready,” Walz said, filling the running mate’s top job as the boss’ hype machine. “Our job is to get in the trenches and do the blocking and tackling.” **Read more**: [_Key Moments From Tim Walz’s DNC Speech_](https://time.com/7013812/tim-walz-dnc-speech-2024/) Since President Joe Biden bowed out four weeks ago, Democrats have seen a resurgence of not just hope but of fight. The map to 270 electoral votes has been [remade](https://time.com/7013206/dnc-schedule-clinton-walz/) with the first woman of color as the party’s presidential nominee, with Walz in position to help hold the Bidenesque coalition in the so-called Blue Wall states. From the opening moments of this convention, it was clear Democrats knew they had a short runway to introduce their understudy and were going to lean on every shorthand they could find. “Let’s vote for our MVP, Kamala Harris, and our coach, Tim Walz,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Jamie Harrison said Monday as he opened the proceedings. Whereas past VP nominees—a former Vice President in Al Gore, incumbent Senators **in** Joe Lieberman, Biden, Tim Kaine, and Harris—were well known in Washington green rooms, Walz was hardly the familiar face in Washington. While Walz served in the U.S. House, few Democratic activists understood him to be a future face for the party. That’s why Walz’s introduction on a national stage in recent weeks mattered more than most meet-cute sessions playing out on C-SPAN. In his biggest moment until he debates his GOP counterpart J.D. Vance, Walz seemed to nail it. At moments, it was plenty clear that Walz could make inroads to moderates and conservative voters who mightn’t be entirely on-board with Harris. He threw a few dings at Republicans’ agenda and showed himself a capable hatchet-man for Harris. But he also carefully came off as anything but a partisan, which is far from the role Vance, a first-term Senator from Ohio, has crafted for himself. “I learned how to compromise without compromising my values,” Walz said, pitching himself as a figure who couldn’t be pegged as a hack. But for Democrats needing a nudge to staff the campaign field offices in the exurbs and bedroom communities they so often skip, Walz had an equally calibrated measure. If Democrats were looking for an affable dad in their kids’ carpool, they seem to have struck gold in Walz. To be sure, few voters decide how to act in the voting booth based on the running mate. No one decided to oppose Hillary Clinton in 2016 because they thought Kaine was objectionable and even fewer found reason to reject Mitt Romney in 2012 because he opted to move then-Chairman Paul Ryan into his back-up plan. The only way the VP pick matters is if it’s botched. [See](https://time.com/6206523/sarah-palin-primary-republicans-trump/) Sarah Palin, 2008. Walz, a similarly unknown Governor with a back-bench resume, could fit that mold. Both, of course, nailed their national introductions at upper-Midwest conventions. But, to this brief point, there is little reason to think Walz comes as untested as Palin, or carries as much potential for self-implosion. Instead, Walz seems entirely comfortable—if cornily so—in his own persona as the Dad Next Door who never found a cliche he didn’t find useful as a proxy for his feelings. “There’ll be time to sleep when you’re dead” and “mind your goddamn business” both found their way into his text on Wednesday. But amid the tropes that “the government stays the hell out of your bedroom,” he also brought sufficient fire to keep the Democratic base fired up without alienating the centrist core that is this nation. Right on pitch, Walz noted that as Governor, he made sure all students in Minnesota had a free breakfast and lunch. “While other states were banning books from schools, we were banishing hunger from ours,” Walz said to applause in Chicago. A simple message, sure. But with the undercard role, it’s often best to keep it that way—especially when the top of the ticket seems to be doing so well. _Make sense of what matters in Washington._ [_Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter_](https://cloud.newsletters.time.com/signup?nln=dc-brief&source=dc%5Fonsite)_._ ## Transcript [00:05] In town. [00:08] It's the honor of my life to accept [00:12] your nomination for Vice President of the United States. [00:21] We're all here tonight for one beautiful, simple reason. [00:27] We love this country. [00:31] So thank you to all of you here in Chicago and all of you watching at home tonight. [00:38] Thank you for your passion. [00:40] Thank you for your determination, [00:42] and most of all, thank you for bringing the joy to this fight. [00:48] But it was those players and my students who inspired me to run for Congress. [00:54] They saw in me what I had hoped to instill in them, [00:58] a commitment to the common good, [01:00] an understanding that we're all in this together. [01:05] And the belief that a single person can make a real difference for their neighbors. [01:14] So there I was a 40 something high school teacher with little kids, [01:20] zero political experience, and no money running in a deep red district. [01:27] But you know what? Never underestimate a public school teacher. [01:33] Now, when Republicans use the word freedom, [01:39] they mean that the government should be free to invade your doctor's office. [01:44] Corporations free to pollute your air and water, [01:49] and banks free to take advantage of customers. [01:54] But when we Democrats talk about freedom, [01:58] we mean the freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people that you love. [02:05] Freedom to make your own health care decisions. [02:10] And yeah, your kids freedom to go to [02:14] school without worrying about being shot dead in the hall. [02:21] Look, I know guns. I'm a veteran. [02:27] I'm a hunter. And I was a better shot than most Republicans in Congress, [02:31] and I got the trophies to prove it. [02:36] But I'm also a dad. [02:39] I believe in the second amendment, [02:41] but I also believe our first responsibility is to keep our kids safe. [02:51] That's what this is all about. [02:53] Some folks just don't understand what it takes to be a good neighbor. [02:57] Take Donald Trump and JD Vance. [03:02] Their project 2025 will make things [03:06] much harder for people who are just trying to live their lives. [03:11] They spent a lot of time pretending they know nothing about this. [03:15] But look, I coach high school football long enough to know and trust me on this. [03:20] When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they're gonna use it. [03:26] O Here's the thing. [03:29] It's an agenda nobody asked for. [03:33] It's an agenda that serves nobody except the richest and the most extreme amongst us. [03:43] And it's an agenda that does nothing for our neighbors in need. [03:49] Is it weird? Absolutely. Absolutely. But it's also wrong. [03:56] And it's dangerous. [03:59] So while other states were banning books from their schools, [04:05] we were banishing hunger from ours. [04:12] We also protected reproductive freedom, [04:17] because in Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and the personal choices they make. [04:24] And even if we wouldn't make those same choices for ourselves, [04:30] we've got a golden rule. [04:31] Mind your own damn business. [04:39] And that includes IVF and fertility treatments. [04:44] Look. We got 76 days. [04:49] That's nothing. There'll be time to sleep when your dad. [04:53] We're gonna leave it on the field. [04:58] That's how we'll keep moving forward. [05:02] That's how we'll turn the page on Donald Trump. [05:05] That's how we'll build a country where workers come first. [05:09] Healthcare and housing are human rights. [05:14] And the government stays the hell out of your bedroom. [05:23] That's how we make America a place where no child is left hungry, [05:30] where no community is left behind, [05:33] where nobody gets told they don't belong. [05:36] That's how we're gonna fight. [05:38] And as the next president of the United States always says, When we fight. [05:44] When we fight. When we fight. [05:48] Thank you. God. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7013789/tim-walz-dnc-guns/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7013789/tim-walz-dnc-guns/"},"headline":"Tim Walz Just Showed Why Kamala Harris Picked Him","datePublished":"2024-08-22T05:07:43.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-19T07:46:08.691Z","description":"His speech was inclusive and often seemed to exude common sense","url":"https://time.com/7013789/tim-walz-dnc-guns/","keywords":["The D.C. Brief"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9ef08f8cd3210da9/698a5a23457a52d94dd6aaa6/GettyImages-2167069348.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Philip Elliott","jobTitle":"Senior Correspondent","url":"https://time.com/author/philip-elliott/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt9ef08f8cd3210da9/698a5a23457a52d94dd6aaa6/GettyImages-2167069348.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Day Three Of The 2024 Democratic National Convention","caption":"Day Three Of The 2024 Democratic National Convention","creditText":"Al Drago—Bloomberg via Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/the-dc-brief/","name":"The D.C. Brief"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7013789/tim-walz-dnc-guns/","name":"Tim Walz Just Showed Why Kamala Harris Picked Him"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"‘Never Underestimate a Public School Teacher’: Key Moments from Tim Walz’s DNC Speech","description":"Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz gave a rousing 14-minute psych-up speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Wednesday night. The former high school teacher and football coach turned Minnesota governor tapped into his experience revving up players on the field to encourage Democrats to help Vice President Kamala Harris beat former President Donald Trump in the November election.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Twy35LVp/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2024-08-22T06:44:21.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Twy35LVp.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/7013789/tim-walz-dnc-guns/","duration":"PT5M58S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/7013789/tim-walz-dnc-guns/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```