Gwen Walz rallies Michigan teachers for Kamala Harris at Grand Rapids brewery

Several dozen educators from across West Michigan turned out to a brewery in Grand Rapids to show support for Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz—and sip down a few craft beers with the First Lady of Minnesota. 

MICHIGAN—Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz, the wife of Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, made her first-ever trip to Grand Rapids this week, where she rallied alongside dozens of teachers in support of her husband and Democratic presidential nominee, Kamala Harris.

“There are just unlimited possibilities in the air—possibilities of what is to be for another brand new school year. And that’s sort of how this election feels to me, too. Right now, it feels like unlimited possibilities, like the beginning of something,” Gwen Walz said. “We are feeling the joy and the hope and we are ready for that fresh start. We are ready for a new way forward.”

Gwen Walz, a longtime public school teacher and administrator, emphasized the Harris-Walz campaign’s commitment to building a brighter future for Michigan students—including the “common vision” that she and her husband share for the importance of public education.

“I’m proud to be an educator for Harris,” she said. “This is a new way forward for all our sons, daughters, friends, neighbors, colleagues—for all of us, not just some of us. …That’s a future Vice President Harris and Tim are fighting for—fighting for with you, together, with you.”

The private event at City Built Brewing on Wednesday afternoon was co-hosted by the Harris-Walz campaign and the Michigan Education Association (MEA). The brewery’s windows were plastered with campaign signage and the large, downtown space was filled to capacity with dozens of enthusiastic educators from several public school districts across West Michigan.

“Our future is at stake this November,” MEA President Chandra Madafferi told the crowd. “We cannot watch from the sidelines. We need every educator, student, and family to get out there to help our students succeed. We need to send Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to the White House.”

The Biden-Harris administration has called public education the “bedrock of our democracy,” and for the last four years, has focused on providing more federal resources to improve academic achievement, and increase both student attendance and engagement.

As Vice President, Harris has also cast tie-breaking votes in the US Senate to advance major legislation that has provided direct financial support for public schools—including the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act. 

The Biden-Harris administration touted these efforts as the single-largest investment in K-12 education in history—and pointed to recent student achievement gains as a direct result of the increase in federal funds. 

And as a former school teacher, Tim Walz will help ensure that public schools remain a focal part of the Harris-Walz administration agenda over the next four years, Madafferi told the crowd. 

“None of these great things could have happened without the educators coming together to take political action to create a brighter future for our profession, our students, and our state,” she said. “Now there’s still more work to do and we cannot go back. So, it’s game on for Michigan.”

National Education Association President Becky Pringle, US Reps. Hillary Scholten (D-Michigan) and Katherine Clark (D-Massachusetts), as well as state Sen. Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) and state Rep. John Fitzgerald (D-Wyoming) also turned out to the City Built Brewing on Wednesday afternoon to show their support for the Harris-Walz campaign.

The beer was complimentary. 

“We already know that Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will take on loan forgiveness and invest in strong public schools,” Pringle said. “They’ll unite us around healthcare, food and housing insecurity, and economic justice. They believe from a place that reflects their belief in the beautiful, diverse tapestry that is in this country. They believe in the poetry of our constitution.”

Scholten and Clark also spoke in support of Harris—and criticized ex-President Donald Trump’s agenda (or lack thereof) for supporting teachers and public schools, as well as warned of the consequences that Project 2025, a far-right plan for a second Trump term, would have on Michigan’s students. 

“Trump has hurt our teachers, our students, and schools at every single turn,” Scholten said. “As President, Trump tried to slash billions in education funding—seeking to eliminate after-school programs, teacher training, and services for more than 1 million students. He tried to gut public service loan forgiveness programs and freeze Pell Grants. … We are not going back.”

One of the most extreme aspects of Project 2025 calls for eliminating the US Department of Education altogether—including Title I, which provides funds to ensure schools serving low-income students have additional resources beyond what’s available through local taxes.

Ending Title I would eliminate about 5,400 teaching positions across Michigan, which currently serve about 89,000 students statewide, according to a Center for American Progress report.

The right-wing playbook also spells out plans to invalidate state laws on concealed carry, reportedly making it so almost anyone can carry firearms in public—including in schools.

“We’re at a crossroads in our country and the teachers, we have the wind behind us and we are going to choose democracy and quality, a future that is worthy of our children,” Clark said.

READ MORE: Who is Tim Walz? What to know about Kamala Harris’ pick for VP

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