Gov. Tim Walz

Who is Tim Walz? The Minnesota governor has been picked to be Kamala Harris' running mate and VP candidate.

Meet Tim Walz: His early life and political background

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the small-town kid whose time in the military and at the front of a classroom preceded his foray into politics, could become vice president after being selected as Kamala Harris’ running mate. He’d be the third Minnesotan to get the job.

Here’s what you should know about Walz:

Early and personal life

  • Born April 6, 1964 in West Point, Neb.

  • Married to Gwen in 1994. Two children, Hope and Gus.

  • Raised in small-town Nebraska, where he graduated from a public high school.

Education and teaching background

  • He attended Chadron State College in Nebraska and also has a degree from what is now known as Minnesota State University, Mankato.

  • Taught high school social studies and civics in Nebraska and Minnesota.

Military experience

  • Member of the Army National Guard.

  • Achieved the rank of command sergeant major before retiring in 2005 after 24 years.

Political experience

  • First elected in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District in 2006 and reelected to five more terms, serving 12 years in the House of Representatives.

  • Won Minnesota governorship in 2018 and reelected in 2022. Currently chair of the Democratic Governors Association.

Defining moments in Walz’s political career

An all-Democratic power structure at Minnesota’s Capitol in recent years has given Walz the ability to deliver a stream of policies celebrated in progressive circles, ranging from abortion protections to universal school meals to marijuana legalization.

His tenure also includes stumbles and challenges — from dealing with COVID-19 disruptions to unrest sparked by George Floyd’s murder to suggestions his administration hasn’t always been attentive to where tax dollars go.

Go deeper Explore the MPR Archive collection on Tim Walz


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The latest on Tim Walz:

MPR News has chronicled Walz from a personal, political, and policy lens over almost two decades. Here are some stories that shed light on him, what he stands for and how he operates.

As Gov. Tim Walz introduces himself to the nation, his daughter Hope helps him relate
Hope Walz, Minnesota’s first daughter, has gone viral in videos from the State Fair and about text-free driving as her dad, Gov. Tim Walz, takes the spotlight Wednesday night at the DNC.
Lt. Gov. Flanagan on Walz’s skills, flubs, tribal relations and potential promotion
If the Harris-Walz ticket prevails, Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan will become the state’s first female governor and the country’s first female Native American governor. She joined Morning Edition Host Cathy Wurzer by phone Wednesday to talk about Walz’s and her own future.
Vance and Walz are still relatively unknown, but the governor is better liked, an AP-NORC poll finds
Tim Walz and JD Vance have vaulted themselves out of national obscurity as they hustle to introduce themselves to the country, but the senator from Ohio has had a rockier start than the Minnesota governor.
‘Lunch pail kind of guy’: Walz aims to hone image as GOP paints different picture of VP hopeful
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz gives his acceptance speech for the Democratic vice presidential nomination Wednesday at the party’s national convention. Walz had just two weeks to introduce himself to voters since current Vice President Kamala Harris picked him as her running mate. 
Gov. Tim Walz and wife Gwen Walz detail experience with fertility treatment, explain it wasn’t IVF
The Walz family is sharing new details about how they used a fertility treatment called intrauterine insemination to conceive their children. Republicans say Walz misled the public on this aspect of his family history.
Harris and Walz make small town stops and campaign phone calls on Pennsylvania bus tour before DNC
Throughout their stops, Vice President Harris and her running mate Gov. Tim Walz shied away from policy or much politics, instead sticking to broad-strokes messages focused on character, perseverance and the future of the country.
Walz touts Nebraska roots in visit to his home state where there's a battle over one electoral vote
Tim Walz played up his Nebraska roots in his first trip back to his home state since becoming the Democratic vice presidential nominee, and then drew sharp contrasts between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.