Minnesota’s first lady, Gwen Walz, wife of Democratic vice presidential pick Tim Walz, will take part in a conference call with Utah women supporting Kamala Harris’ presidential bid Thursday night.
It is part of a series of calls that the campaign has held with groups nationwide aimed at maintaining the wave of momentum the Harris campaign has been riding. Earlier this month, a similar call with Latter-day Saints for Harris-Walz drew about 1,400 people nationwide.
“As soon as Kamala stepped up, the excitement just blew up in our office ... That’s what these events are going to do and continue to do, just to keep that momentum moving,” said Diane Lewis, chair of the Utah Democratic Party. “And I think with the first lady of Minnesota being on this call, that is going to draw more people to the call, because we don’t know the Walzes, just what we’re seeing. But now we get to meet them and get to know them.”
Thursday’s Zoom call is being hosted by Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall and begins at 7 p.m. It is not a fundraising event and is free to attend.
Speakers will include Walz, the two mayors, current and former state legislators, noted restaurateur Blake Spalding and other business and community leaders.
Gwen and Tim Walz met while they were teaching in western Nebraska. Gwen taught English. Tim taught social studies and was an assistant football coach. She became Minnesota’s first lady when her husband was elected governor in 2018. In that role she has advocated for better educational opportunities for prison inmates.
Since Harris picked Tim Walz as her running mate, the Walzes appeared at a series of rallies alongside Harris and will be in Chicago next week at the Democratic National Convention, where Harris and Walz will formally accept the party’s nomination.
Information about Thursday’s call is available at www.utahwomenforkamala.com.
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