Walz makes fundraising stop in Louisville with days left in presidential race

By: McKenna Horsley - October 23, 2024 5:47 pm

An entourage of Kentucky Democrats, including Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, former U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenburg, arrive at the airport to greet Gov. Tim Walz in Louisville. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

LOUISVILLE — Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota made a brief fundraising stop in Louisville Wednesday evening ahead of the upcoming presidential election.?

Walz and his daughter, Hope, were greeted at the airport by top Kentucky Democrats, including Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman, U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, former U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge and Louisville Mayor Craig Greenburg. The entourage followed Walz’s motorcade to the fundraiser, which will support the PAC of Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris.

According to a press pool report, Walz said the Louisville fundraiser netted the Harriz-Walz campaign more than $2 million.

Democrats U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, left, and former U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth arrive at the airport to greet Gov. Tim Walz ahead of a campaign fundraiser in Louisville. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear was not in attendance. Eric Hyers, the governor’s former campaign manager, said in an email to the Kentucky Lantern that Beshear was on a long-planned trip with his kids, who are on fall break from school.?

The press pool report said Walz did acknowledge Beshear during the fundraiser Walz said that he is grateful for Beshear campaigning for Harris and Walz and making the case across the country for them and Kentucky.

Beshear was under consideration to become Harris’ running mate earlier this summer, but she ultimately selected Walz. The governors have been recent political allies, as Walz attended Beshear’s 2023 inauguration in December.?

Walz’s Louisville stop was among a flurry of events he had scheduled this week. Walz was set to travel to North Carolina after the fundraiser. He voted early in Minnesota Wednesday morning with his wife, Gwen, and son, Gus.?

Harris and Walz, as well as their opponents former Republican President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, have less than two weeks to sway voters before Election Day, Nov. 5.?

Walz is not the first candidate this cycle to make a fundraising stop in Kentucky. Vance attended a Lexington reception hosted by U.S. Rep. Andy Barr in August.?

Trump is likely to win Kentucky’s eight electoral votes this year. He won Kentucky in 2016 and 2020.?

Gov. Tim Walz and his daughter, Hope, arrive in Louisville. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley)

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McKenna Horsley

McKenna Horsley covers state politics for the Kentucky Lantern. She previously worked for newspapers in Huntington, West Virginia, and Frankfort, Kentucky. She is from northeastern Kentucky.

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, the nation’s largest state-focused nonprofit news organization.