Democratic VP candidate Tim Walz visits Newport for fundraiser

NEWPORT, R.I. (WLNE) — Minnesota Governor and Vice President Kamala Harris’s pick for running mate Tim Walz made a quick fundraising stop in Rhode Island Thursday.

The fundraiser was held inside of the Ochre Court building on Salve Regina’s campus.

“This thing sold out overnight,” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said.

Roads were shut down, tourists were redirected, and there was tight security.

“You could feel the energy,” Whitehouse said. “He responded with this folksy, eager, positive, and in-it-to-win-it attitude that I think was really compelling. It was great.”

Newport residents who lived near the university were confused as to why Salve was the choice for Thursday’s event.

“I am a little confused frankly that the university was hosting an event, not withstanding the politics of it, just confused how the university was justifying hosting an event for a candidate representing a lot of things that are antithetical to the university,” resident Paul Puopolo said.

The university sent ABC 6 News a statement that read:

Ochre Court at Salve Regina University was selected by the Rhode Island Democratic Party Committee based on availability for their selected date, time and anticipated capacity. We regularly rent facilities on campus for private events. The committee paid the standard rate for the space rental, worked with our University Events and Conference Services office and is the sole host of the event. As an academic institution, the University fully supports freedom of speech as a cornerstone of democracy. As our mission calls us to do, we support productive and meaningful dialogue across our differences as we work toward a world that is more harmonious, just and merciful.

Other residents in the city were not happy with the visit.

“It’s just upsetting,” seasonal resident Steven Posthuma said. “Can the American public be duped into voting for potentially eight more years of what we just experienced? Inflation, crime in the cities, open borders.”

While some tourists were excited to know Gov. Walz was in the area.

“I don’t think he was a bad pick at all,” Missouri resident Scott Meyer said. We have spent a lot of time in the state. Being from the Midwest, I like that [Harris] has a midwestern running mate.”

There were a group of pro-Palestinian protesters outside of the event, with one sign that read, “No funds for genocide, Walz not welcome.”

Walz’s next stop is New York where he will continue to fundraise.