HOUSTON, US — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz officially accepted the nomination for US vice president at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois, late Wednesday, marking the biggest moment of his political career.

In his acceptance speech, Walz highlighted his accomplishments for the people of Minnesota, where he has served as governor since 2019. He emphasized his focus on affordability for middle-class families and touted a range of policies enacted under his leadership.

"We cut taxes for the middle class. We passed paid family and medical leave. We invested in fighting crime and affordable housing," said Walz. "We cut the cost of prescription drugs and helped people escape the kind of medical debt that nearly sank my family, and we made sure that every kid in our state gets breakfast and lunch every day."

Walz, a former member of the Army National Guard for 24 years and a high school social studies teacher, served in the US House of Representatives for 12 years before becoming Minnesota’s governor.

He portrayed himself as a common man and a good neighbor who fights for the people. "While other states were banning books from their schools, we were banishing hunger from ours," he said, highlighting his commitment to addressing food insecurity in Minnesota.

Diving into the volatile topic of abortion, Walz emphasized that Americans should have the "freedom to make your own health care decisions." He underscored Minnesota’s respect for personal choices and criticized those who seek to impose restrictions on reproductive rights. "We also protected reproductive freedom because in Minnesota, we respect our neighbors and the personal choices they make. Even if we wouldn’t make those same choices for ourselves, we've got a golden rule: Mind your own damn business," he declared.

As an avid hunter and proponent of the Second Amendment, Walz also made a strong case for tightening federal gun control laws, asserting that all children should have the "freedom to go to school without worrying about being shot dead in the hall."

"I know guns. I'm a veteran, I'm a hunter, and I was a better shot than most Republicans in Congress, and I’ve got the trophies to prove it," he said. "But I'm also a dad. I believe in the Second Amendment, but I also believe our first responsibility is to keep our kids safe."

Walz framed himself and Harris as advocates for the average American, drawing a clear contrast between their ticket and their Republican opponents, former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator JD Vance. "If these guys get back in the White House, they'll start jacking up the costs on the middle class, they'll repeal the Affordable Care Act, they'll gut Social Security, Medicare, and they will ban abortion across this country, with or without Congress," he warned.

Walz concluded his speech with a call to action, urging Democrats and Independents to vote for the Harris-Walz ticket in the upcoming Nov. 5 presidential election. "That's how we'll turn the page on Donald Trump. That's how we'll build a country where workers come first, health care and housing are human rights, and the government stays the hell out of your bedroom," he said.

"That's how we make America a place where no child is left hungry, where no community is left behind, where nobody gets told they don't belong. That's how we're gonna fight," he added, energizing the crowd with his closing remarks. — Agencies