Gov. Tim Walz voted early Wednesday at the Ramsey County elections office on St. Paul’s West Side, joined by First Lady Gwen Walz and his son, first-time voter Gus Walz.

As he stepped up to the counter to collect his ballot, Walz informed the county employee that it was his son’s first time. “He’s pretty excited,” Walz said.

While working on their own ballots, the parents asked their 18-year-old son if he needed help. Gus responded with a resounding “no.” But he walked with his dad over to the voting machine after both completed their ballots. An election worker called out “first-time voter” after Gus fed the machine, and other workers standing by to watch applauded even as other voters arrived to cast their ballots.

Walz and his son then high-fived before the governor got in a black SUV to head across the parking lot to talk to reporters away from the polling place. The governor didn’t mention himself, saying he had voted for Vice President Kamala Harris for president as well as U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, who represents the Fourth Congressional District that includes St. Paul.