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Tim Walz is headlining the Cincinnati fundraiser for the campaign

Posted on by Vanessa
Tim Walz is headlining the Cincinnati fundraiser for the campaign

Cincinnati Democrats turned out in force Saturday to meet Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, who was leading a fundraiser for the Kamala Harris-Walz presidential campaign.

The Enquirer spotted a who's who of Cincinnati politics entering the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, where the event was held. Walz, currently governor of Minnesota, spent at least an hour Saturday afternoon at the event, which began shortly after noon.

Cincinnati Deputy Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney helped plan the event and was on hand with her husband Eric Kearney, president of the African American Chamber of Commerce. U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Mount Washington, attended the event, as did Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval.

Council members Seth Walsh and Victoria Parks were in the crowd, as were Hamilton County Commissioners Alicia Reece and Denise Driehaus and state Rep. Cecil Thomas, D-North Avondale. FC Cincinnati co-CEO Jeff Berding also attended the event.

Former Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, who has been in office during the pandemic and, as she put it, is “strongly considering” running for governor of Ohio in 2026, was seen attending the event along with the fresh-faced chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party's David Pepper left his book on Project 2025 to make a podcast.

Funk legend Bootsy Collins heated up the audience with his music.

“Ohio matters,” Lemon Kearney said. “We have to take part in the election. Just because we're not a swing state doesn't mean our vote doesn't matter.” Early voting in Ohio begins October 8th.

“Governor Tim Walz himself is the real deal,” Walsh said. “Whoever you see on TV, we met in person. His authenticity and commitment to improving our country blew me away. The room was full of energy, but as he spoke it only became more so. That's because he's talking about real problems and solutions to those problems.” Face all of us.

Acton said Walz delivered a “moving message” about values ​​that the Democratic Party holds dear.

“People are tired of the hate,” Acton said. “There is strength in kindness. My heart is full.”

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center opened in 2004 on the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, a museum dedicated to the stories of the Underground Railroad. A group of protesters, part of the University of Cincinnati's Students for Justice in Palestine, spread their message outside the event, although they never saw Walz, who entered the building from an underground parking garage. They called for an arms embargo.

Also in attendance at the fundraiser was actor, director and activist Mario Van Peebles, who directed and starred in the cult classic “New Jack City” and portrayed political icon Malcolm X in the film “ALI.” Van Peebles Mario is currently starring in and directing a film about Harry and Harriet Moore, who were known as the “Bonnie and Clyde of voting rights” but took the day off filming in Toronto to come to Cincinnati.

“We’re at a tipping point,” Van Peebles said. “Our daughters are in danger because their rights are being taken away.” He is the father of three daughters and said he feels called to personally attend events to support the Democratic Party.

After this stop in Cincinnati, Walz traveled to Cleveland, where he was scheduled to headline another benefit event.

Vice President Harris was scheduled to visit North Carolina later Saturday to examine the impacts of Tropical Storm Helene and learn about recovery efforts, the USA Today Network reported.

Cincinnati-area Democrats were hoping to bring Harris to the region, and Lemon Kearney even helped raise at least $1 million to make it happen, she told The Enquirer last week. However, with only 30 days left until the election, Cincinnati received Walz instead.

Harris has focused on campaigns in swing states like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Many no longer consider Ohio a swing state after former President Donald Trump won it by 8 percentage points in both 2016 and 2020.

The Enquirer asked the Harris/Walz campaign for permission to cover the private event in Cincinnati but was denied.

“Thank you for reaching out,” said Emily Soong, who responded to Monica Medvedec, the Harris Victory Fund’s Midwest finance director. “For your planning, the governor will not be holding any public press events tomorrow. His appointments are covered by his travel pool for editorial reporting only.”

The event essentially took place in Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance's backyard. Vance grew up in Middletown, Ohio, but now lives in Cincinnati's East Walnut Hills neighborhood.

Jared Kamrass, a Democratic strategist at Technicolor Political based in Washington, D.C., said Cincinnati is a key Democratic stronghold nationally.

“As Ohio becomes less important, Cincinnati is more important to Democrats nationally,” Kamrass said. “In addition to being an indispensable fundraising resource, we were one of only two districts to defeat an incumbent Republican congressman (Landsman) in 2022, and the Greater Cincinnati area will have a larger role in Ohio Sen. Sherrod play.” Brown’s path to victory than ever before.

Brown will be on the ballot this November, running for re-election against Republican candidate Bernie Moreno.

Enquirer reporter Scott Wartman contributed to this report.

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