Why are people calling Harris’ VP pick Tim Walz a ‘midwest princess’? How campaign is ‘pop music’ coded

If you or anyone around you is under the age of 30 this summer, you've heard the terms "brat" or "brat summer" so much that it is now a part of your personal vocabulary. But do you know what a "Midwest Princess" is?

For fans of glittery popstar Chappell Roan, the answer is obvious. But what does it mean when those refer to Kamala Harris’ 2024 running mate Tim Walz as one?

Wondering what green-tinted fam cams on social media and a camo hat says about the Democratic presidential campaign? Here's what to know and how you can impress your Gen Z relatives with your niche pop culture knowledge.

But first, who is Tim Walz?

Kamala Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her vice presidential running mate. Walz, 60, is also a former teacher, coach, and congressman, as well as a U.S. Army National Guard veteran.

Walz was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2006 and served 12 years before being elected governor of Minnesota in 2018 and again in 2022. During his time as governor, he has pushes for several progressive policies, including free school meals, tax cuts for the middle class, and protections for abortion rights.

Who is Chappell Roan? How does 'Midwest princess' term relate?

Chappell Roan, real name Kayleigh Rose Amstutz, is a 26-year old pop star from Willard, Missouri. Roan was launched into stardom this year after the release of debut album "The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess" last year, becoming one of Olivia Rodrigo's opening acts on the "Guts" World Tour and headlining multiple festivals.

Referred as "the next big thing," Roan loves to dress up, sing, dance and celebrate drag, often featuring queens as her show openers. She also highlights and celebrates her both Midwestern upbringing and the LGBTQ+ community in her music.

What is a 'Midwest Princess'?

In an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, she shared what the term means.

"I think I just am, I don’t know how to explain it! I think it’s just a girlie from the Midwest who is doing their own thing and causing a ruckus — a little bit of a rebel," she said.

"It doesn’t have to be a girl. A Midwest Princess does not mean girl or boy, it can mean anything. It can mean a feeling or an attitude of just... rhinestone-cowgirl-trashy in-your-face, but [also] loving and accepting and free."

Harris, Walz campaign jump on connection. Sells out merch identical to Roan

Due to the rise of Walz on social media, many have dubbed him a "Midwest princess" alongside Roan due to his dad jokes online, his progressive stances and his overall Midwest charm.

"Walz isn’t Brat, he’s the Rise of A Midwestern Princess and your fancams should be soundtracked accordingly," one user joked.

Following the VP announcement, the campaign listed a camo-printed hat, emblazoned with bright orange letters reading “HARRIS WALZ." Walz took to social media and shared a post on X of him wearing the "Harris Walz" hat with the caption, "Capping off the night."

If the hat at all looks familiar, it’s because it suspiciously looks similar to a popular merch item sold by Roan. Her website sells a nearly identical camo trucker hat with orange lettering that reads “Midwest Princess. ”

According to Teen Vogue, the campaign's 3,000 hats were sold within 30 minutes of the sale going live, with sales amounting to nearly $1 million. It is currently only available for preorder for $40 with an expected release date of Oct. 14.

Kamala Harris is also 'brat.' What is 'Brat'?

It all has to do with Charli XCX, who released "Brat" on June 7, featuring hits such as "Von Dutch" and "360." In USA TODAY’s review, the album embraces a hot-mess pop star aesthetic, prioritizing club culture at its core but still offering introspective lyrics on aging, womanhood, grief and anxiety.

In addition to its awards and acclaim from reviewers, the album has also spawned a pop culture movement — brat summer. It depends on who you ask but most define the phrase as just simply having fun and being a little messy.

What is ‘brat’ summer?Why Kamala Harris’ campaign is embracing meme around Charli XCX album

But how is Kamala Harris "brat" exactly? Social media and supporters have identified her as the latest figure to symbolize having a "brat summer." Harris' campaign has fully adopted the trend, having rebranded on X with a new header − a neon green background reading “kamala hq” in the style of the “BRAT” album cover. 

Why do candidates jump on pop culture trends during elections?

As more politicians hop on the "brat" and "Midwest princess" trend, many social media users are wondering if they actually like the album or have even listened to either of these albums.

Some consider politicians jumping on popular meme and trends as "cringey" and "obvious pandering," many referencing Hillary Clinton's viral joke about the mobile game "Pokémon Go" while campaigning in 2016.

“I don’t know who created Pokémon Go,” she said. “But I’m trying to figure out how we get them to have Pokémon Go to the polls.”

But why do they do it? After interviewing several politicians on their social media usage, Vice found that participating in these trends can create a stronger connection with voters and get information out.

A Pew Research Center found that 25% of social media users follow candidates or other political figures on various social media platforms. A similar Pew Research Center study found that a similar share of Americans have engaged with social media content from politicians.

However, many still voiced the many challenges they face from trying to hop on these trends, such as being called "inauthentic" by Gen Z, sparking unintended backlash and not being taken seriously. Users in favor of Harris and Walz have warned that they better tread lightly before partaking in the jokes.

Does Chappell Roan give Tim Walz her endorsement?

While Charli XCX dived into the meme by tweeting "Kamala is brat," some aren't so sure Roan is excited about the connection to Harris' campaign.

The popstar quote-tweeted a fan who pointed out the similarities of the two merch items, asking "Is this real?" The responses to her remark ranged from "yes queen" to "not the U.S. government coming for your brand."

At June's Governors Ball festival in New York City, Chappell addressed the White House asking her to perform for their 2024 Pride event. Before singing "“My Kink Is Karma," she shared that she turned down the Biden administration’s invitation.

"This is a response to the White House, who asked me to perform for Pride. We want liberty, justice, and freedom for all. When you do that, that’s when I’ll come," she said.

Additional comments during her set suggest she declined the invitation in honor of the LGBTQ+ community and the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, saying: "freedom for all oppressed people in occupied territories."

What is Kamala Harris' actual campaign song?

It's not even a song off "brat" or "Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess." It's not even from either artist.

According to CNN, the Harris campaign received permission from Beyoncé to use the song "Freedom" throughout her presidential campaign. The song is off the singer's 2016 studio album "Lemonade."