Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has been selected as Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate for the 2024 presidential election.
Known for his down-to-earth approach and strong focus on veterans’ issues, Walz has made a mark both as a former educator and a leader in Minnesota.
His selection highlights his role in shaping state policy and his appeal beyond traditional Democratic strongholds.
As a key figure in this election, Walz’s partnership with Harris aims to bring a fresh perspective to the Democratic ticket.
Who is Tim Walz?
Timothy James Walz, born on April 6, 1964, is an American politician, former educator, and retired U.S. Army non-commissioned officer.
He has served as the 41st governor of Minnesota since 2019. As a member of the Democratic Party, he is the presumptive nominee for vice president in the 2024 United States presidential election.
Walz was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 to 2019, representing Minnesota’s 1st congressional district.
Born in West Point, Nebraska, he joined the Army National Guard and worked a blue-collar manufacturing job after high school.
He later earned a teaching degree from Chadron State College in Nebraska before moving to Minnesota in 1996.
Walz became governor of Minnesota on November 6, 2018, defeating the Republican nominee, Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson.
He was reelected in the 2022 Minnesota gubernatorial election, defeating Republican nominee Scott Jensen.
On August 6, 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris announced her selection of Walz as her running mate in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
5 Facts About Kamala Harris Running Mate Pick
Vice President Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate for her White House bid.
Walz, a 60-year-old Democrat and military veteran, gained attention with straightforward TV appearances after President Joe Biden announced he wouldn’t seek a second term.
He has turned Minnesota into a hub of liberal policy. This year, he made Minnesota one of the few states to protect fans buying tickets online for Taylor Swift concerts and other live events.
Here are some things to know about Walz.
1. Tim hails from rural America.
Tim Walz vividly represents the American heartland. Born in West Point, Nebraska, a small town northwest of Omaha with about 3,500 people, he joined the Army National Guard and became a teacher in Nebraska.
In the 1990s, he and his wife moved to Mankato in southern Minnesota. There, he taught social studies and coached football at Mankato West High School.
He led the 1999 team to win the first of the school’s four state championships. He still proudly mentions his union membership from that time.
Walz served 24 years in the Army National Guard, retiring in 2005 as a command sergeant major, one of the military’s highest enlisted ranks.
2. He is experienced in navigating a divided government.
In his first term as governor, Tim Walz faced a split Legislature with a Democratic-led House and a Republican-controlled Senate that resisted his proposals for higher taxes to fund schools, health care, and roads.
Despite this, he brokered compromises, making the divided government productive. In his second year, bipartisan cooperation became tougher.
Walz used emergency powers during the COVID-19 pandemic to close businesses and schools, leading to Republican pushback and the removal of some agency heads.
Republicans also criticized his response to the violent unrest after George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
Things improved for Walz in his second term after defeating Republican Scott Jensen. Democrats gained control of both legislative chambers, allowing for more liberal policies.
They eliminated state abortion restrictions, protected gender-affirming care for transgender youth, and legalized recreational marijuana.
They also funded free school meals, free tuition for families earning under $80,000, a paid family and medical leave program, and health insurance coverage regardless of immigration status.
3. Tim Walz has a keen ear for sound-bite politics.
Last month, Walz called Republican nominee Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance “just weird” during an MSNBC interview.
The Democratic Governors Association, chaired by Walz, echoed this point on X.
Walz repeated this description on CNN, pointing to Trump’s frequent references to the fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter from “Silence of the Lambs” in his speeches.
The term “weird” quickly became a theme for Harris and other Democrats. It has the potential to become a key word in the undeniably unusual 2024 election.
4. He could be a valuable asset to the ticket in crucial Midwestern states.
Although Walz isn’t from a key “blue wall” state like Wisconsin, Michigan, or Pennsylvania, he is right next door. His role is crucial in keeping Minnesota under Democratic control.
This is important because former President Donald Trump has targeted Minnesota this year, despite the state not electing a Republican to statewide office since 2006.
No GOP presidential candidate has won the state since Richard Nixon’s landslide in 1972, but Trump has already campaigned there.
5. He has a proven track record of connecting with conservative voters.
In his first Congressional race in 2006, Walz defeated six-term Republican Rep. Gil Gutknecht in a largely rural district in southern Minnesota.
He leveraged voter frustration with President George W. Bush and the Iraq war to win. During his six terms in the U.S. House, Walz focused on veterans’ issues.
He has also displayed a down-to-earth side through social media.
One video last fall featured him and his daughter, Hope, trying out a ride called “The Slingshot” at the Minnesota State Fair, where they joked about fair food and her being a vegetarian.
Personal life
Walz and his wife, Gwen, married in 1994. They lived in Mankato, Minnesota, for nearly 20 years before moving to Saint Paul with their two children after his election as governor.
Walz is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
In 2016, Walz’s brother Craig died after a tree fell on him during a storm. Craig’s wife and their son, who was severely injured, survived him.
