Nexstar Media Wire News

Why are so many people wearing camo at the DNC?

(NEXSTAR) — Tuning into the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, you may notice a sea of camouflage-clad attendees.

Chicago may not feel like a space for camo and blaze-orange hats, but it isn’t about the venue. It’s about the major speaker taking the stage during the third night of the DNC: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Harris announced in early August that Walz would be her running mate, sharing a video that showed Walz dressed in camo gear at his St. Paul, Minnesota, home. He quickly earned the nickname “Midwest Princess” as a nod to pop singer Chappell Roan’s merchandise (she wears a camo hat sporting “Midwest Princess” in orange font).

A day after Harris’ announcement, the Harris-Walz campaign confirmed it had sold nearly $1 million worth of camo hats with “Harris Walz” printed in bright orange on them.

Even singer-songwriter Justin Vernon, a Wisconsin native and lead singer of the band Bon Iver, donned the camo hat while campaigning alongside Harris and Walz in Wisconsin on August 7.

Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris talks with The Local Store at VolumeOne owner Nick Meyer, left, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Eau Claire, Wis., and Justin Vernon, lead singer of Bon Iver. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

It also led the campaign to turn out camo can koozies (or can cooler, if you live outside the Midwest) in the following days.

The popularity of the hats has prompted some outlets, like Teen Vogue, to question whether the camo hats will become as prominent as the red hats associated with former President Donald Trump and his supporters.

Ella Emhoff, the daughter of Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and stepdaughter of Harris, was spotted wearing the camo Harris-Walz hat during the first night of the DNC.

Despite its popularty, the camo hat is seemingly not available at the campaign merchandise stands at the Democratic National Convention.

The Hill’s Lauren Irwin contributed to this report.