Gov. Tim Walz lands in Columbus, visits downtown coffee shop ahead of local rally
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the vice presidential nominee on Democrat presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ ticket, arrived in Columbus Tuesday afternoon for a campaign rally aimed at getting out the early vote.
Walz arrived at the Columbus Airport just before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. He was greeted by state Reps. Teddy Reese, Carolyn Hugley, Debbie Buckner and Calvin Smyre.
After disembarking from the plane, Walz took a moment to speak with the delegation and take photos. His motorcade left the airport a few minutes before 4:30 p.m. to take him to a Columbus event, but he stopped at Iron Bank Coffee Shop on Broadway for an event the campaign called “Educators for Harris-Walz.”
He spoke to a small group of educators at the coffee shop, and Rep. Sanford Bishop, Among the group was 2024 Muscogee County School District Teacher of the Year Christie Akers.
“What would make your job easier?” Walz asked Akers.
She listed a handful of suggestions, which included pay with raises that extend past a 20-year cap and controlled class sizes.
With just one week until the general election, Walz told people at the coffee shop that they can tell how close a location is based on where the candidates are as Election Day gets closer.
Walz’s visit to Columbus was his second stop in Georgia Tuesday, as Vice President Harris’ running mate visited Savannah earlier in the day. Both visits were marked as “get out the early vote” events.
Voters in Georgia have already surpassed previous early voting records, according to a news release by Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger.
More than 2.9 million people have already voted in the state, the release said, which is more than 40% of active Georgia voters.
On Day 15 of early voting in previous elections, 1.6 million people voted in 2022 and 1.9 million voted in 2020.
This campaign rally comes as former President Donald Trump’s campaign faces criticism because of comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s disparaging remarks toward Puerto Rico made at a rally in New York City.
Georgia is one of the key battleground states both presidential campaigns are focusing on as Trump held a rally at Georgia Tech Monday, pushing back against critics labeling him a “Nazi.”
Trump’s campaign stopped in Columbus earlier this month, with U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and other elected officials advocating for him.
Walz’s rally was set to take place at Columbus Georgia Convention and Trade Center around 6 p.m.
This story was originally published October 29, 2024 at 4:31 PM.
