“You might not know it, but I haven’t given a lot of big speeches like this,” Gov. Tim Walz said in his keynote at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday evening in Chicago—the understatement of an unlikely campaign that has catapulted Minnesota’s governor onto the national stage in a matter of a few weeks. “But I have given a lot of pep talks.”

Accepting the Democratic nomination for vice president, Walz took the opportunity to introduce himself to the nation with heavy emphasis on his years as a social studies teacher and football coach at Mankato West High School. His 1999 state champion team even got a moment in the spotlight before Walz’s speech as the crowd waved “Coach Walz” signs and wife Gwen Walz could be seen mouthing the words to the Mankato West fight song.

“Those players, my students, inspired me to run for Congress,” Walz said, mentioning his “commitment to the common good” and a “belief that a single person can make a real difference for their neighbors.”

“Never underestimate a public school teacher,” Walz said.

Walz highlighted his record as governor, including establishing free breakfast and lunch for public school students, paid family leave, and middle class tax cuts. But he spent more time in the role that brought him to this stage: cheering on Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for president.

Gwen Walz appeared in a recorded statement, emphasizing her husband’s comfort everywhere from farm to football field to the U.S. House. She cheered with children Hope and Gus. The governor’s 17-year-old son  stole the show as he stood, tears streaming down his face, shouting “That’s my dad.”

Senator Amy Klobuchar’s introduction of Walz was similarly peppered with Minnesota references, from the state where “Purple reigns” to Lake Itasca, headwaters to the Mississippi River, which, she said, starts small and grows mightier as it winds its way south.

Walz’s acceptance speech capped a star-studded third evening of the convention that included appearances by President Bill Clinton, poet Amanda Gorman, and Oprah Winfrey—a surprise addition to Wednesday night’s lineup. Drummer Sheila E., a close friend and collaborator of Prince, joined John Legend in a performance of the late singer’s “Let’s Go Crazy.” Another Prince hit, “1999,” played earlier in the evening’s program, which also included a speech by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

Minnesota’s presidential history

The similarities to another Minnesota politician who ascended to vice president were undeniable. It was in Chicago in 1968 when Hubert Humphrey accepted the Democratic nomination for president. Like Harris, Humphrey was serving as vice president. President Lyndon B. Johnson had announced on March 31, 1968, that he would not seek a second term as president.

In contrast to Harris, Humphrey accepted his party’s nomination when the Democrats were badly divided over the war in Vietnam. The Chicago nominating convention was dominated by clashes between protesters and the Chicago police.

While the popular vote winning margin was narrow, Richard Nixon bested Humphrey in the Electoral College in 1968 with 301 votes.

Former Minnesota Sen. Walter Mondale was elected President Jimmy Carter’s vice president in 1976. Republican President Gerald Ford lost to Carter following his pardon of President Nixon’s Watergate actions.

In 1984, Mondale secured the Democratic nomination for president, but he lost in a landslide to the highly popular Ronald Reagan.

Humphrey and Mondale both sought the political brass ring—the presidency.

But Walz appears to be having the time of his life as the vice-presidential candidate on a ticket with former California Sen. Harris.

Humphrey grew up in a town of about 600 people in South Dakota. Walz was born in a tiny town in Nebraska and became a young teacher there before moving to Minnesota.

A member of Congress who served with Walz described him this week as an “everyman.”

Former President Barack Obama joked at the Democratic National Convention Tuesday that the folksy attire Walz is known to wear didn’t come from a political consultant. Obama said the flannel shirts came directly out of Walz’s closet. “They have been through some stuff,” Obama said with a laugh. Gwen Walz concurred when a tv camera panned to her in the audience.

The 2024 presidential election cycle already has been historic. In July 2022, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, who represents Minnesota’s 3rd congressional district, said President Biden was too old to run for another term and that Democrats should have a primary contest. It took two full years before Biden lost key Democratic congressional support and he withdrew from the presidential race.