Walz touts diversity, LGBTQ rights in DNC caucus appearances
- The VP hopeful celebrated Democrats' diversity
- He criticized Trump's stance on rights for the LGBTQ+ community
- Walz met with groups ahead of headliner speeches on the DNC's first night
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – AUGUST 6: Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz walk out on stage together during a campaign event on August 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Harris ended weeks of speculation about who her running mate would be, selecting the 60 year old midwestern governor over other candidates. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO (NewsNation) — Vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made the rounds at several caucus meetings Monday, hoping to rally the base on Day 1 of the Democratic National Convention.
Walz made stops at all five of the caucus meetings on Monday, tailoring his message to address and appeal to each constituency.
Speaking to the Black Caucus, Walz touched on concerns of Black voters, who say politicians only come around during election time but then don’t necessarily deliver for the Black community.
“You can count on the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, and you can count on white politicians coming to Black communities to ask for their votes. What’s different this time is we have a Black woman who is going to lead us, and she’s asking for the votes,” he said.
At the Native American Caucus meeting, Walz touted his experience as governor of a state that includes 11 sovereign nations.
“When we elect (Vice President Kamala) Harris to the presidency and me to the vice presidency, Minnesota will get a new governor. And to have an Anishinaabe woman leading the state of Minnesota and understanding what our bright future together looks like, it’s a powerful thing,” he said.
Walz told the Asian-American Pacific Islander Caucus they were fighting to elect a president “that represents America, that does what we believe.” He told the Hispanic Caucus they’re fighting for “America’s decency and leadership and vision and kindness and inclusiveness for this big, beautiful tapestry that makes up America.”
At the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Caucus, Walz touched on the expansion of rights and called out former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance for what he sees as their limited vision.
“These guys … think it’s like pie. Like, oh, we cut the pie, I get a smaller piece. Rights don’t work like pie. There’s enough for everybody,” Walz said.
“For those guys on the other side, don’t ever mistake our kindness for weakness because when it’s time to come out hard, we will come out hard at you,” he also said.
Walz will address the entire convention when he delivers his address Wednesday night from the United Center in Chicago.
