Gov. Tim Walz delivered remarks at a “Native Americans for Harris-Walz” get-out-the-early-vote rally in Window Rock, Arizona, on Saturday afternoon– a remote location on the Navajo Nation.
Walz’s visit marks the first time a candidate on the presidential ticket has gone to Navajo Nation this cycle, according to the campaign.
“We’re here because we’re not taking any vote for granted, and we’re here to show respect to the Navajo Nation and earn your vote. Now I’ll tell you we’re running like everything’s on the line, because everything’s on the line,” he said.
Walz said that given the closeness of this election, especially in the battleground state of Arizona, Native votes may really tip the scales for the Democratic ticket.
“I think, probably, that we win the whole damn thing because of the work that was done here, the work that’s done on the nation, and we put Kamala Harris in the White House,” Walz said.
Walz claimed that Donald Trump did not give Native Americans support in office and specifically blasted Trump for his gathering with families of Navajo war veterans at the White House in 2017.
The event occurred in front of an image of Andrew Jackson, the president who signed legislation that eventually led to the “Trail of Tears.”
“I don’t know if he knows his history well enough to know what he was doing, but I damn sure guarantee you the people around him knew the insult they were throwing to Indian country by making those heroes stand in front of that portrait,” Walz said.
Walz highlighted how his and Harris’ economic policies would boost Tribal entrepreneurs and businesses and better their health care options.
“I want to be clear and make sure you hear it and that the country hears it. Kamala Harris and I recognize the promises this country has been made to indigenous peoples. We will safeguard and strengthen the bonds between our nations and uphold our trust and treaty obligations,” he said.
-ABC News’ Isabella Murray
