Harris, Walz merch embraces Republican jabs, pop culture: A round-up

With the Democratic National Convention kicking off in two weeks, the demand for presidential merchandise featuring the newly unveiled ticket of Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz continues to inspire political swag of all shapes and sizes.
From coconuts to witty Walz puns, Midwestern camo hats, and odes to British pop singer Charlie XCX’s “BRAT” album and throwback pictures of the candidate plastered on mugs, pop culture and Republican party jabs have made their way onto Harris-Walz campaign merch, official and unofficial.
Here’s a round-up of the t-shirts, mugs and catchphrases taking over the Democratic merch world.
The camouflage baseball cap with bold orange lettering of the Harris, Walz ticket broke the internet on Tuesday when Walz posted a picture wearing the cap. It costs $40 on the website and is currently only available for pre-order. Some say the cap is a tribute to Midwestern culture, and others online compare it to Midwestern singer Chappell Roan’s hat featuring orange lettering on camouflage but says “Midwest Princess.”
In a play on words from Walz’s last name, the Iowa-based company Raygun released a blue T-shirt saying it’s “Balz to the Walz” for the campaign, as Election Day is less than 90 days away.
In 2021, Donald Trump’s running mate, Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, called some Democrats “Childless cat ladies.” The comment resurfaced recently, and the Harris campaign embraced the dig. The campaign now sells $20 mugs saying, “Proud member of the childless cat lady club,” and t-shirts that say the same. The mugs are already sold out.
Pictures of Harris from childhood and college can be seen on the “College Kamala Mug,” which is sold out, and the “Madam President Mug,” which has a picture of Harris as a young child. They didn’t stop there. There’s also similar merch for Second Gentleman, Doug Emhoff, in the “Throwback Doug Tank.”
You’ve likely heard about or seen the lime green memes about “brat summer” or noticed the re-brand of the “Kamala HQ” X account that changed their banner to say “kamala hq” with the bright green background. It’s a design scheme from British pop singer Charlie XCX’s album “BRAT,” which has become a summer staple for young people online.
After a phrase from one of Harris’ speaking engagements went viral, Raygun shirts jumped on the opportunity. The viral moment comes from the full quote: “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.” The Midwestern design shop also has sold-out stickers that say, “Coconut Army.”