Tim Walz gave his first remarks since his and Kamala Harris’ brutal 2024 presidential election defeat vowing to jump back in the fight for Minnesota as Donald Trump prepares to take power.
The Minnesota Governor broke his silence with a speech back in his home state surrounded by supporters. His wife Gwen gave a teary introduction before he took the stage.
‘I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a week,’ Walz started out by cracking a joke.
Walz gained international prominence after Vice President Kamala Harris picked him as her running mate back in August.
The 60-year-old started out by thanking her for putting her faith in him and for running the joyful campaign as well as her friendship.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and wife Gwen waving at supporters after giving their first remarks after the presidential election loss
The governor also thanked his Minnesota and campaign staff and all of the supporters who backed the Democratic ticket.
‘It’s hard to lose. It’s hard to understand while so many of our fellow citizens, people we have fought so long and hard form wound up choosing the other path. It’s hard to reckon with what that path looks like over the next four years,’ he said.
Walz encouraged people to take the time for themselves and their loved ones.
‘Whenever you’re ready to get back in that fight, I’ll be standing right here ready to fight the fight with you,’ he vowed.
Walz said despite the deep disappointment at the loss, he has never felt more inspired, motivated and ‘fired up for what’s possible in this country.’
He shared how he got to travel the entire country the past few months and meet with Americans. His takeaway from the whirlwind campaign is that people really all want the same things in life. He talked about meaningful work, good schools, affordable health care and more.
‘I think most of all, and you saw it in a very deep way, people want freedom to live their lives the way the want to live them,’ Walz said.
Governor Tim Walz with Vice President Kamala Harris at their first campaign event after she named him her running mate on August 6 in Philadelphia, PA
Walz said Minnesota has always been there and always will be to ‘provide shelter from the storm’
While the governor talked about his hope and keeping an open mind on what’s to come, he also warned the state needs to be ready for the Trump administration.
‘The moment they try and bring a hateful agenda in this state, I’m going to stand ready to stand up and fight for the way we do things here,’ he said.
He said Minnesota has always been there and always will be to ‘provide shelter from the storm.’
Walz noted there were 1.5 million Minnesotans that voted for Trump and Vance in the election. He said while there is not room for the most extreme elements of their agenda, he called for a place for everyone to be heard.
‘Now that this election is behind us, I’m going to try even harder to keep an open mind, open heart and really listen to folks who don’t support me or my policies, to work with everyone in the legislature to seek compromise and common ground because that’s how we come back together after such a long time spent fighting each other,’ he said.
The governor struck a largely positive and optimistic note, but that did not stop him from getting in one more dig at his rival Vice President-election JD Vance, pointing out he knows how to order donuts.
It was a reference to one of Vance’s most cringey moments on the campaign trail.
Before Walz spoke he was introduced by his wife Gwen, who also campaigned hard over the past few months to help Democrats.
‘Kamala Harris is a remarkable leader,’ Minnesota’s first lady said in her teary introduction. ‘She would have been a remarkable president.’
She said she was so thankful to get to know the vice president and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.
Walz told supporters it is ok to feel sad and scared and give themselves the ‘grace to grieve.’
The Minnesota First Lady also said the work continues to keep Minnesota safe and inclusive and strong.
‘We cannot and we will not give up this fight,’ she said to cheers.
While these were the first public remarks by both Tim and Gwen Walz since the election loss, they were there when Harris conceded the election in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.
Governor Tim Walz with Gwen and daughter Hope standing alongside Doug Emhoff as Vice President Harris gave her concession speech on Wednesday
Both were visibly emotional as they stood next to Emhoff and other family members in the crowd at Howard University.
Their kids Hope, 23, and Gus, 18, also have been engaging with followers on social media.
Their daughter posted a series of TikToks where she talked about how the country did not deserve Harris, but they are all going to be ok.