Officials have confirmed that Governor Tim Walz is making a stop at the Minnesota State Fair, this time as the Democratic nominee for vice president.
Walz had suggested on Friday night during a campaign stop in McLean, Virginia that he was going to visit the Great Minnesota Get-Together, something he has done regularly in past years.
2024 is the first time Walz missed opening day at the state fair since becoming governor.
During the Democratic National Convention in Chicago last week, Walz was asked by WCCO's Susie Jones if he would attend the fair.
His response at that time was "Unsure," although he backtracked a little while being whisked away by secret service personnel.
Walz and his family have been staying at Eastcliff Mansion in St. Paul, usually the home of the University of Minnesota president.
The move to Eastcliff was necessary as crews are in the middle of a massive renovation of the governor's mansion on St. Paul's
Details of the visit have not been released.
Visits by presidents and vice-presidents to the Minnesota State Fair are common, especially during campaign years.
Minnesotans Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale both campaigned at the state fair.
Humphrey was Lyndon Johnson's running mate in the 1964 election, while Mondale appeared in 1980 for Jimmy Carter.
Both became vice president after that year's election.
The most memorable appearance of the second-in-command came on Labor Day, Sept. 2, 1901.
It was on that day in Falcon Heights that Teddy Roosevelt delivered his famous "National Duties" speech where he remarked "speak softly and carry a big stick—you will go far."
Two weeks later, Roosevelt became president when William McKinley died after he was shot by an assassin.
The most recent appearance by a vice president to the Minnesota State Fair was 1996, when Al Gore came to the Great Minnesota Get-Together to campaign for Bill Clinton's re-election.
Records show that at least 10 presidential candidates, six sitting vice presidents, two sitting presidents and four future presidents have attended the Minnesota State Fair.
ANOTHER ATTENDANCE RECORD
After soaking rain, high winds, and searing heat, the weather finally cooperated on Friday and fans of the Minnesota State Fair responded in droves.
Officials reported on Saturday that Friday's attendance was a whopping 225,521, the highest total for this year's fair and a record for the second Friday of the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
The previous high mark was 209-thousand set in 2019.
This is the fourth time a daily attendance record has been broken this year.
All-time highs swarmed the fair the first two days, along with this past Wednesday.
For the first nine days of the fair, 1,286,940 have gone through the gates at the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
Attendance figures for Saturday will be announced on Sunday afternoon.