The MAGA hat now has a rival in the political merchandise arena. On Tuesday, Vice President Kamala Harris unveiled her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as the official Democratic vice presidential candidate. Shortly after the announcement, the Harris-Walz campaign launched its first viral merchandise: a camouflage hat featuring “Harris Walz” prominently displayed on the front.
The camo hat, priced at $40, is produced by Unionwear, a Newark, New Jersey-based company known for its union-made products, which include hats, bags, and binders. The Harris-Walz hats were initially available for preorder on September 23. However, due to high demand, the shipping date was pushed back to October 7. All proceeds from the hat sales will benefit the Harris Victory Fund, a joint fundraising committee that supports Harris’s presidential campaign and Democratic candidates nationwide.
The release of the hat coincided with a flurry of social media activity. Recently, memes comparing Tim Walz to rising pop music star Chappell Roan began circulating. Roan, who hails from Willard, Missouri, has her own camo hat design with the phrase “Midwest Princess” available on her official website.
Capping off the night. https://t.co/pgF98PaOLr pic.twitter.com/DwAQ4hoKkY
— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) August 7, 2024
Chappell Roan has been gaining significant attention in the music industry with her latest album, *The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess*. The album includes popular tracks such as “Femininomenon,” “Red Wine Supernova,” and “Hot To Go!” On August 1, Roan captivated one of the largest daytime audiences in Lollapalooza’s history with her performance at the Chicago festival.
After encountering the Harris-Walz camo hats on X (formerly Twitter), Roan reacted with surprise, posting, “Is this real?” This intersection of politics and pop culture highlights the growing trend of merchandise as a tool for political branding and fan engagement.
Governor Walz promoted the new merch by posting a photo of himself wearing the hat. The image followed his appearance at a Democratic rally at Girard College in Philadelphia with Harris. “Capping off the night,” Walz captioned the post, showcasing his support for the campaign.
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The campaign debut of Harris and Walz took place in Philadelphia on Tuesday. The pair, dressed in coordinated power suits, were met with enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. This event marked the beginning of a five-day tour across seven key swing states: Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. The tour aims to solidify their campaign presence in critical battleground regions ahead of the upcoming election.
The choice of a camo hat for their merchandise and the timing of its release reflect a strategic effort to capitalize on current trends and cultural moments. As Harris and Walz hit the campaign trail, their efforts to engage voters through both traditional and contemporary means highlight their commitment to reaching a broad audience.
With the campaign now fully underway, the Harris-Walz team is expected to continue leveraging both political and cultural touchpoints to strengthen their visibility and appeal as they navigate the competitive landscape of the 2024 election.
