Gov. Tim Walz addressed hundreds of firefighters in Boston on Wednesday, as he and Vice President Harris seek the endorsement of the powerful International Association of Firefighters.
The union backed President Biden in the last election but has yet to endorse a candidate this cycle. Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance is expected to appear at the convention Thursday, a spokesman confirmed.
Ed Kelly, president of the union and a former Boston firefighter, told the gathering Wednesday: “We have to play in politics. We have to play hard, and we have to play smart. Our members that elected us deserve nothing less.”
Walz rolled out his union bona fides, telling the crowd he grew up in a union family and remains a card-carrying member of the Minnesota teachers union. He said a Harris administration would fight for policies like the PRO Act that make it easier to join a union.
“It was you who built the middle class. And we know that when unions are strong, America’s strong,” he said, to applause.
Walz, in his second Boston appearance this month, criticized Vance and former President Donald Trump for supporting anti-union right-to-work laws.
“We believe that workers deserve to collectively bargain for fair wages, safe working conditions, good health care, and secure retirement,” he said. “No interference from government!”
Walz appeared to have an ally in Kelly, the union president. While not formally endorsing the Democratic presidential ticket Wednesday, Kelly noted the union’s Minnesota state chapter has backed Walz “every single time he’s run for office. And with good reason.”
While Walz drew a warm reception inside the room, outside the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, there were a few dissenters. Two firefighters wore shirts that said “Firefighters for Trump” and told WBUR they did not listen to Walz’s speech.
James Puckett, a firefighter from Killeen, Texas, said he came away from the speech liking Walz personally. But he said he wasn’t sure whether the union should endorse Walz and Harris — or anybody at all. “It’s very divisive,” he said.
After the speech, Walz was headed to Georgia, where he and Harris are kicking off a campaign bus tour.