Who is Tim Walz?

Those who have lived in Minnesota for any amount of time are probably familiar with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who is now on the ballot as the Vice Presidential Democratic nominee. Walz took office in 2006 as a congressperson in the U.S. House of Representatives. He went on to serve six terms in the house. Walz was then elected as governor of Minnesota in 2018. Although Walz did not receive the Democratic Farmer-Labor (DFL) party endorsement during the primary elections, he still went on to win the election. But before he started a career in government, he was a school teacher and served in the National Guard. 

During his time in the state legislature, Walz wore many different hats. He was and still is a supporter of the Affordable Care Act, worked to raise Minnesota’s minimum wage and showed support for union workers. But Walz was also supported by the National Rifle Association, voted to tighten the restraints against refugees entering the United States and supported the bail of banks during the 2008 financial crisis. 

Although he had some stereotypically Republican-leaning stances during his time in the legislature, these policies did not follow him to the governor's office. Despite a first term overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the murder of George Floyd, Walz has been able to pass landmark laws in Minnesota during his six years as governor. He worked to secure free school lunches for children across Minnesota, signed a bill to legalize marijuana and protected a woman's right to abortion in the state.  

Before going into politics, Walz was an active member of the National Guard. He then turned to a career in teaching, working for over 20 years at Mankato West High School as a geography teacher. He served as the advisor for the school’s first Gay-Stright Alliance beginning in 1999. He was also the coach for the school’s football team, leading them to their first ever state championship in 1999. Walz and his wife, Gwen Walz, started a program called Educational Travel Adventures, which organized trips to China for high school students.