In a speech peppered with Midwest jokes and self-deprecating quips, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gave an introduction of sorts to friendly voters in Orange County on Tuesday, Aug. 13.
Walz, who was named Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate just last week, headlined a fundraiser in Newport Beach, one of his first solo events since joining the ticket.
Standing before a large ballroom at the Balboa Bay Resort, a waterfront hotel in Newport Beach, Walz ran through his resume: governor, congressman, educator, coach — “We won the damn state championship,” he reminded a cheering audience. He ran through his platform — supporting gun ownership when balanced with certain regulations, paid family leave and clean air regulations.
“They keep talking about these are radical things, and I’m like, go ahead and label me whatever you want because I’ll damn sure guarantee you 80% of people in Minnesota and across the country want those things,” said Walz to applause.
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He sought to endear himself to a campaign-estimated 200 people, many who paid between $1,000 and $100,000 for tickets to hear him speak for about 30 minutes on a warm weekday. Responding to being asked whether he was surprised to be named the vice presidential contender, Walz joked, “I couldn’t be more surprised if I woke up with my head stapled to the carpet.”
“I’m surprised,” he said, “but I’m also encouraged. Not about me because this isn’t my story. This is an American story.”
Introductions and some jabs at their GOP opponents aside, Walz kept the conversation largely focused on Harris, his running mate.
“You know better than anybody in this state what we’ve got in the vice president,” Walz said. “She’s found her voice.”
Law enforcement escort Gov. Tim Walz, presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ running mate, to a Newport Beach fundraiser on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
“We’ve got 84 days to take this country in the direction we know is true to our values, the promise of America,” Walz said. “The idea for my daughter, for my son, for countless young people across this country to wake up on the 85th day, to know that we have Madam President Kamala Harris.”
Walz also noted his daughter, Hope, was in attendance at the Orange County event, drawing large cheers. He briefly shared his family’s own deeply personal story about using in vitro fertilization treatments – a procedure that involves retrieving a woman’s eggs and combining them in a lab dish with sperm to create a fertilized embryo that is transferred into the woman’s uterus in hopes of creating a pregnancy – that contributed in the birth of his daughter.
Making a seeming jab at past comments from Ohio Sen. JD Vance, former President Donald Trump’s running mate, Walz said, “If it’s your choice not to have children, that’s a choice you need to make and celebrate.”
Vance has drawn scrutiny for past comments he’s made about women without biological children, including Harris.
While Tuesday’s event was a fundraiser, meaning Walz could expect to be well-received, his jokes seemingly landed with the crowd. He often elicited laughter and cheers.
“I’ve never seen so much enthusiasm in all the years I’ve been doing this,” said attorney Wylie Aitken, one of the hosts of Tuesday’s fundraiser. “It’s amazing that when everybody was kind of down and out and feeling, legitimately, concern with (President Joe) Biden, etc., then suddenly to have this reversal and to see this incredible enthusiasm that’s energized everyone.”
Aitken’s been involved in local Democratic politics for a long time and is impressed by what he said is the enthusiasm Harris and Walz have brought to the Democratic ticket.
“It’s a historic moment, not just for democracy, but I think we have our best shot at putting a woman in the White House, and that’s going to be fantastic,” Aitken said.
Multiple California Democratic House members were at the fundraiser, including Reps. Nanette Barragán of South Gate, Mike Levin of San Juan Capistrano and Katie Porter of Irvine.
“I was excited and energized before, and I continue to be,” said Levin, who noted that he appreciates Walz’s background as a former House member from a competitive district. “I think Tim Walz will do a great job as the vice presidential nominee.”
Levin was an early Democratic House member who called on Biden to set aside his re-election bid, even telling the president that directly during a call. As Walz stood behind him greeting those who had come out to see him, Levin said, “I want to win the election in November and defeat Donald Trump. Vice President Harris and Gov. Walz give us a great chance to do just that.”
Before speaking at Tuesday’s fundraiser — where he had four American flags behind him and a bar and charcuterie station for attendees at the back of the room — Walz addressed a crowd of more than 4,000 union workers in Downtown Los Angeles earlier.
“Just to be clear, the vice president and I, we know exactly who built this country — It was nurses, it was teachers, and it was state and local government employees that built this nation,” Walz said there. “And it’s not just a saying, it’s a fact: When unions are strong, America is strong.”
Former President Trump visited Newport Beach for a fundraiser of his own in June. It’s one of places in the U.S. that have raised the most money for the former president this election cycle: His campaign committee has brought in, so far, $770,000 in the 92660 and 92663 ZIP codes; the Biden-Harris campaign committee has raised a little over $145,000, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
Staff writers Clara Harter and Hanna Kang and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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