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But I know that we canand we willwin.
Photographed by OK McCausland
Because we have you.
At present, the national race is so close thatpollsters have gamed outthe chances of an actual tie.
Most believe that to earn the 270 electoral votes she needs in November, Kamala Harrismust prevail here.
Gwen Walz, wife of Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz, in Harrisburg, PA. Brooch by Julia Warwick Design.
No wonder this is Walzs second trip in the span of a week.
Walz speaks for a trim 13 minutesjust enough time to rail against Donald Trump and J.D.
Vance, whip out what she calls her teacher glasses, and lead voters in two call-and-response chants.
“You know the stakes,” Walz tells voters in Harrisburg.
A line forms for selfies.
She is in and out in under an hour.
(In fairness, it was an unknown number, Gwen points out.)
Gwen and Tim Walz in an earlier era.
But at least he didnt find out that hed gotten the job from a push alert.
After photos hit the newswires, a friend reached out in horror.
She said, Gwen, I cant believe you wore alinenblend, Walz says.
“If you’re a woman, then it is clear where your vote has to be,” says Walz.
And Im like, I hear you, but it was in the front of my closet.
Her husband takes a lesshow shall she put it?fastidiousapproach to fashion.
Still, she knows better than to interfere.
Gwen Walz with a member of the crowd.
The Walzes have been married for three decades.
She learned at the start not to bother attempting to upgrade his staples.
It remains her most successful gift to date.
Walz was perhaps not destined for the position of political spouse.
On their first date he told her they would get married.
Walz used to assignBuzz BissingersFriday Night Lightsto her students for independent reading.
Britton starred in theonscreen adaptationsas perhaps the most famous wife of a football coach of all time.
She is now one of a dozen people Walz follows on her brand-newInstagramaccount.
That the two are on texting terms is just one of the surreal realities of Walzs current existence.
After six terms in the House, Walz ran for governor of Minnesota and won in 2018.
At the moment, those interests have necessarily taken a backseat to reproductive rights and womens health.
It took seven years and fertility treatments for them to have Hope.
Gus arrived five years later.
Im angry that I have to talk about it, she says.
I didnt for almost 20 years.
It was super emotional, Walz says.
People who had known us really well were like, We never knew this about you.
Even our families did not know a lot of the details.
It was very hard, and it is very hard.
Hope is now 23.
Gus just turned 18.
I can see the people who must either have struggled or know someone who did, she says.
If I talk about it, people wait afterwards, and a lot of times, its tearful.
Walz is focused on the election, but her life after it will be remade if Harris wins.
Emhoff has also made himself available to Hope and Gus, which Walz appreciates.
(Im like, Gus, dont you dare text that man 24/7.)
She and Bidentwo English teachershave known each other since Walz arrived in Washington almost two decades ago.
She is the most amazing person, Walz tells me.
I wonder whether Walz has a similar plan.
Do you think someone will hire me?
But when pressed, she sounds determined: I have to find a classroom somewhere.
Perhaps not right away, though.
Like another recent political spouse, she may wait a few months before moving to DC.
First let them get through November, and then well see.
Do shoes match suits?
She had never cried in front of her children, but she sobbed as she tucked Gus in.
This is the experience of a lifetime, and what am I focused on?Do shoes match suits?
After I leave her, Walz will roll through Pittsburgh.
She will be in Georgia within 24 hours.
She will repack her suitcase.
She will choose a new color palette.
She will think of Clinton.
It was like, We are pushing forward, Walz says.
And I thought, Let me be like that.
