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DNC 2024 Day 3 live updates: Gov. Tim Walz rallies crowd in acceptance speech, tells Dems to 'leave it on the field'
Walz introduced himself to the country and touted his accomplishments.
The third night of the Democratic National Convention continued the themes of joy and freedom.
A who's who of speakers, including a surprise speech from Oprah Winfrey, headlined the night aimed to showcase vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
"Coach Walz" brought his energy to the crowd touting his and Vice President Kamala Harris' vision for the future of the country.
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Walz turns his attention to 'weird' Trump and Vance
After focusing on his own biography, Walz turned to skewering Trump and Vance -- and brought back the phrase that made him go viral during the veepstakes: "weird."
"Here's the thing. It’s an agenda that nobody asked for," he said of the Trump-Vance platform. "It’s an agenda that serves nobody but the richest people and the most extreme voices in our country. An agenda that does nothing for our neighbors in need."
"Is it weird? Absolutely," he said. "But it's also wrong."
Walz touts record as governor
As governor, with the help of a narrow Democratic majority in the state legislature, Walz implemented a bevy of progressive policies including: universal school breakfast and lunch, state codification of abortion rights and gun control measures like universal background checks and red flag laws.
He discussed his personal connection to each issue in tonight's speech, including his family's IVF journey and being a hunter supportive of the Second Amendment but also a father who worries about guns in schools.
"That’s what this is all about," he said. "The responsibility we have to our kids, to each other, and to the future we’re building together -- a future in which everyone is free to build the kind of life they want. But not everyone feels the same sense of responsibility."
Walz's district wasn't 'deep red'
In his speech, Walz touted how he won his first election for Congress in a "deep red district."
While it's true that the district had an entrenched Republican incumbent and he wasn't given much of a chance at first, the district was actually pretty competitive under the surface. In the 2004 presidential election, George W. Bush carried it just 51% to 47%.
—538's Nathaniel Rakich
Walz says 'never underestimate' a teacher
As he reflected on running for Congress in red district as a Democrat, Walz told the crowd: "Never underestimate a public school teacher."
The line got a loud cheer from the audience.