Walz, 60, is a former teacher and high school football coach currently serving his second term as the governor of Minnesota.
Here’s what to know about Walz:
Who Is Tim Walz?
Walz, 60, is a former teacher and high school football coach currently serving his second term as the governor of Minnesota. Prior to running for governor, Walz served for 12 years in the House of Representatives, representing southern Minnesota’s First Congressional District.
While in Congress, Walz pushed for veterans’ rights, serving as the top Democrat on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. He also served on the Agriculture Committee and the Armed Services Committee during his tenure.
In a testament to his bipartisan approach in Congress, Walz was ranked the 7th most bipartisan House member during the 114th Congress, according to The Lugar Center and the Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy.
How Old Is Tim Walz?
At 60 years old, Walz is just a year older than his running mate, and 18 years younger than Trump.
What Is Tim Walz’s History?
Walz “grew up in a small town in Nebraska, spending summers working on his family’s farm,” Harris wrote in an Instagram post Tuesday. “His father died of cancer when he was 19, and his family relied on Social Security survivor benefit checks to make ends meet.”
After graduating high school, Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard and attended Chadron State College where he earned a social science degree, according to his governor’s bio.
After college, Walz taught abroad before returning to serve in the Army National Guard full time and teaching. He moved to Minnesota in the 1990s to teach high school social studies and coach the Mankato West High School football team. He also served as advisor of the Gay-Straight Alliance, according to Harris’ post.
Walz spent 24 years in the Army National Guard and retired from an artillery battalion in 2005 as a command sergeant major, one of the top enlisted ranks in the Army.
What Policies Is Tim Walz Known For?
When running for governor, Walz campaigned on a “One Minnesota” platform that emphasized union organizing, a $15-per-hour minimum wage, and assistance for school children and college students.
As governor he signed bills enshrining reproductive rights in the wake of Roe v. Wade being overturned (the Minnesota state legislature was the first to codify abortion protections after the landmark case was reversed), protected gender-affirming care and legalized recreational use of marijuana.
He also approved funding for free school meals for children, free tuition at public colleges for students in families earning under $80,000 a year, a paid family and medical leave program and health insurance coverage regardless of a person’s immigration status.
What Is Tim Walz’s Stance on Gun Rights?
A regular hunter and a former member of the National Rifle Association, Walz signed into law gun safety measures that included universal background checks for rifles and semi-automatic weapons. Notably, the legislation did not include background checks for transferring a hunting rifle between immediate family members.
The measures also included extreme risk protection orders known as “red flag laws,” and limited the use of no-knock warrants.
Who Is Gwen Walz, Tim Walz’s Wife?
Gwen Walz, who is a lifelong Minnesotan, met her husband while they were both teaching at the same school, according to her bio. Over the course of her teaching career, Gwen taught in public schools, alternative schools, migrant schools and prisons, and served as an administrator and coordinator in the Mankato Area Public Schools for nearly 20 years. Along with her husband, she developed the Educational Travel Adventures, Inc., an annual summer travel trip for their students to China.
Together, Gwen and Tim Walz have two children: Hope, who is a recent college graduate, and Gus, a high schooler.
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