CHICAGO — The penultimate night of the Democratic National Convention took place on Thursday with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz giving his acceptance speech and Oprah surprising many with a rousing endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris.
In case you missed it, here are three main takeaways from the third night of the Democratic National Convention.
Walz introduces himself to America
The Minnesota Governor was not well known before Harris tapped him to be her running mate but he used his speech on Thursday to introduce himself to the American people, using his resume as a High school teacher. Football coach. Hunter. Neighbor. And Friend.
“In Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and the choices that they make. And even if we wouldn’t make the same choices ourselves, we’ve got a golden rule: Mind your own damn business,” Walz said.
Walz touched on Harris’ policies such as health care, abortion rights and homeownership while making a case the Democratic ticket is about American’s freedom while the GOP want to strip away freedoms.
“When we Democrats talk about freedom, we mean the freedom to make a better life for yourself and the people you love. Freedom to make your own health care decisions. And yeah, your kids’ freedom to go to school without worrying about being shot dead in the hall,” Walz said.
“That’s what this is all about: The responsibility that we have to our kids, to each other and to the future we’re building together in which everyone is free to build the kind of life that they want.”
Oprah’s surprise appearance
Talk show legend Oprah Winfrey attempted to tie two generations together as she made a surprise appearance at the convention to endorse Harris.
Winfrey referred to Harris as emblematic of “the best of America.” She told the story of Tessie Prevost, who died last month, and three other Black girls who faced hate and harassment as 6-year-old girls as they began the desegregation of New Orleans elementary schools in 1960.
Winfrey said, “they paved the way for another young girl who nine years later became part of the second class to integrate the public schools in Berkley, California.”
“Soon and very soon, we’re going to be teaching our daughters and sons about how this child of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, two idealistic and energetic immigrants — immigrants — how this child grew up to become the 47th president of the United States,” Winfrey said.
Republicans rally behind Harris
While Democrats are likely to vote for Harris in November, getting ‘Never Trump’ Republicans is going to be a challenge but Wednesday night saw two Republicans call on their party members who aren’t satisfied with Trump to choose a new path.
Former Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, a Republican, and Olivia Troye, a former national security adviser to Vice President Mike Pence, both spoke and confirmed their votes for Harris in November.
“To my fellow Republicans, you aren’t voting for a Democrat; you’re voting for democracy,” Troye said. “You aren’t betraying our party; you’re standing up for our country.”
