Politics & Government

Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz makes appearances in Macon. What to know.

By Jeremy Chisenhall and Lucinda Warnke
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz descends the stairs after exiting a plane with his daughter, Hope Walz, at Middle Georgia Regional Airport on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Macon, Georgia. Walz will visit Macon on Tuesday before traveling to Atlanta and Asheville for Harris-Walz campaign events.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz descends the stairs after exiting a plane with his daughter, Hope Walz, at Middle Georgia Regional Airport on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Macon, Georgia. Walz will visit Macon on Tuesday before traveling to Atlanta and Asheville for Harris-Walz campaign events. Katie Tucker/The Telegraph

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the vice presidential candidate for the Democrats in the upcoming general election, was set to make public remarks in Macon Tuesday as part of a campaign outing in Georgia, one of the most important states in the presidential race.

Walz arrived in Macon late Monday night, flying into Middle Georgia Regional Airport and meeting local Democrats. He was set to give remarks in Macon, talk to press, then leave for events in Atlanta later Tuesday.

At the start of Walz’s remarks in Macon Tuesday, he condemned the second alleged assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump that occurred over the weekend, which has resulted in a suspect being arrested and an active investigation, according to multiple media reports. Walz called it a “horrific situation.”

Walz also emphasized that he wanted to see a peaceful election and being able to “shake the hand of the other person” in a political battle is an important aspect of democracy.

Minnesota governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks to a crowd of supporters and phone bankers at the Macon Bibb County Democratic Committee office on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Macon, Georgia. Walz visited the office on National Voter Registration Day and spoke on the phone with potential Middle Georgia voters as a part of his Macon campaign stop.
Minnesota governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks to a crowd of supporters and phone bankers at the Macon Bibb County Democratic Committee office on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Macon, Georgia. Walz visited the office on National Voter Registration Day and spoke on the phone with potential Middle Georgia voters as a part of his Macon campaign stop. Katie Tucker/The Telegraph

Ahead of Walz’s appearance Tuesday, supporters of Trump showed up downtown holding Trump signs and chanting in protest of Walz.

This is the second event that Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has done in Macon this month. Local friends of the campaign held an event earlier in September to vouch for Harris’ stance on abortion access.

Trump’s campaign has also held events in Georgia, as both parties seek to shore up as many votes as possible in the swing state that proved crucial in 2020.

After making remarks, Walz joined supporters to work a phone bank and make calls before heading to H&H Soul Food to talk with diners. Trump supporters showed up there too, chanting and holding signs across the street.

Minnesota governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks to a voter while phone banking at the Macon Bibb County Democratic Committee office on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Macon, Georgia. Walz visited the office on National Voter Registration Day and spoke on the phone with potential Middle Georgia voters as a part of his Macon campaign stop.
Minnesota governor and Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks to a voter while phone banking at the Macon Bibb County Democratic Committee office on Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Macon, Georgia. Walz visited the office on National Voter Registration Day and spoke on the phone with potential Middle Georgia voters as a part of his Macon campaign stop. Katie Tucker/The Telegraph

This is a developing story. For more coverage of Walz’s visit to Macon, visit macon.com.

This story was originally published September 17, 2024 at 10:14 AM.

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