Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz speaks at Omaha campaign rally

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Vice presidential candidate Tim Walz spoke Saturday for the first time on the campaign trail in his home state.

Walz took the stand at the Astro Theater in La Vista after a series of speakers, including Nebraska Democratic Party Chairwoman Jane Kleeb and U.S. Senate candidate Preston Love.

He was joined by his wife Gwen Walz and one of his former students, Aubrey Faustman.

Kamala Harris’ running mate grew up in Nebraska, graduating high school in Butte before joining the Nebraska National Guard.

He earned a degree at Chadron State College and taught social studies in Alliance.

The Omaha campaign rally comes just days ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

Liz Huston, a spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee, released a statement regarding Walz’s visit to Nebraska:

“Tim Walz and Kamala Harris do not represent the commonsense, Midwestern values of those in the Cornhusker State. While Walz pretends to support Americans in the Heartland, when the cameras are off, he believes that rural America is ‘mostly cows and rocks’. Just like Harris, Walz is dangerously liberal and a champion for the Harris-Biden agenda that has burdened Nebraskan families with high prices, higher taxes, and made communities less safe. In November, Nebraska voters will send a resounding message when they elect President Donald J. Trump to Make America Great Again.”

Presidential candidate Donald Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, is expected to visit Omaha next week for a private fundraiser, according to the Associated Press.

Both candidates are eyeing Nebraska’s second congressional district, which Joe Biden won in 2020 and Barack Obama in 2008.