With one viral remark on cable TV, where he bluntly declared, “these guys are just weird,” Minnesota Governor Tim Walz catapulted into the spotlight as Kamala Harris‘ choice for vice president.
At 60 years old, Walz brings a straightforward, no-nonsense style to the political arena, combined with a sharp wit aimed at countering Republican opposition.
His journey from a public school teacher and football coach to a National Guardsman and now a prominent politician is nothing short of remarkable. With a background that includes representing a Republican-leaning district in Congress and later implementing progressive policies as Minnesota’s governor, Walz offers a blend of experiences that could resonate with a wide range of voters in today’s polarised political landscape.
Early Life and Education
Timothy James Walz, born on April 6, 1964, in West Point, Nebraska, grew up in a rural community. His father, a public school administrator, passed away from lung cancer during Walz’s high school years when Walz was 19.
After graduating from Butte High School in 1982, Walz pursued higher education at Chadron State College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in social science education in 1989. Later, he obtained a Master of Science in educational leadership from Minnesota State University, Mankato.
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Military Career
Walz joined the Army National Guard at 17, serving for 24 years and reaching the rank of master sergeant. His military career included postings in disaster response and overseas deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
Simultaneously, he worked in agriculture, manufacturing, and teaching.
Teaching and Coaching Career
Armed with teaching degrees, Walz took on a one-year teaching post in China around the time of the Tiananmen Square massacre. He later honeymooned in the country with his wife Gwen Whipple and also organised summer educational trips to China for US students.
After returning home to Nebraska, Walz became a teacher and American football coach until his wife, another teacher at the school, drew him back to her native Minnesota. They now have two children.
As a coach at Mankato West High School, Walz helped build up an American football programme that led the school to its first state championship. He also earned plaudits for agreeing to be the faculty adviser for the school’s gay-straight alliance at a time when homosexuality was largely frowned upon.
Political Career: From Congress to Governor
Walz first ran for office in a largely agricultural district that spans across southern Minnesota, which is fairly rural and Republican-leaning. But Walz campaigned as a moderate who cared about public service and veterans’ advocacy, leading to an election upset.
Over his 12 years in Congress, it was hard to label his ideology. He voted in favour of the Affordable Care Act, co-sponsored pro-labour measures, including a bill to raise the minimum wage, and backed an unsuccessful cap-and-trade effort for reducing carbon emissions.
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But he also found common cause with Republicans. He voted to continue funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, supported tighter vetting of refugees entering the US, and tried to block the Obama-era bailout of banks and car companies after the 2008 financial crash.
Once endorsed by the pro-gun National Rifle Association (NRA), which donated to his campaign, he spoke out in favour of an assault weapons ban after the Parkland school shooting and lost their backing.
Governor of Minnesota: A Time of Turbulence and Triumph
Walz won the 2018 Minnesota governor’s race by more than 11 points but his first term was overshadowed by the Covid pandemic and the killing of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis.
Republicans heavily criticised Walz for being slow to deploy the National Guard even as some protests grew violent. But the governor won re-election and his second term has overseen a busy period with Democrats controlling the state legislature by a single seat. Democrats have enshrined abortion rights, enacted paid family and sick leave, strengthened gun laws, funded universal free school meals, and invested in affordable housing.
The frenetic activity caught the eye of former President Barack Obama who wrote: “If you need a reminder that elections have consequences, check out what’s happening in Minnesota.”
The Vice Presidential Pick: Broadening Appeal
On August 6, 2024, it was announced that Kamala Harris selected Walz as her running mate for the 2024 U.S. presidential election. His diverse background, from military service to education and politics, positions him as a compelling candidate to attract a broad spectrum of voters.
Largely unknown on the national scene, Walz has quickly gathered buzz in recent weeks for his acerbic descriptions of Republicans.
“These are weird people on the other side,” he recently told MSNBC, a label that has been widely repeated. “They want to ban books. They want to be in your [doctor’s] exam room.” But Republicans have been quick to characterise what he has done in Minnesota as too radical for ordinary Americans.
Tom Emmer, the third-highest ranking Republican in the US House of Representatives, accused Walz of trying “to turn Minnesota into Kamala Harris’ home state of California.” But allies, including labour leaders, believe Walz can broaden Harris’s appeal to rural and working-class voters.
Angie Craig, a House Democrat locked in a competitive race for re-election, praised Walz as “a battle-tested leader.” As “a proven winner who has never lost an election across many tough races,” she told the BBC she believed he would be the best possible addition to the Harris ticket.
A Working-Class Politician with Rural Roots
Walz is seen as an appealing option for independents and moderate Democrats as a working-class politician with a rural background.
Before running for office, Walz, a graduate of Chadron State College in Nebraska, served in the Army National Guard, and then worked as a teacher, first on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, where he met his wife Gwen, a fellow teacher, and then in China and later as a high school teacher in Mankato, Minnesota, south of Minneapolis.
Walz initially entered politics as a member of former Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign, a spot he took after he said some of his high school students were questioned for having a Kerry sticker when he took them to a campaign rally for then-president George W. Bush, MinnPost reported.
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Strategic Choice for the 2024 Election
Presidential candidates have a long history of strategically choosing running mates in swing states or candidates who appeal to certain voters in hopes of gaining ground in the presidential election.
This November, Minnesota will be a critical swing state for Harris, one of seven key states Biden won in 2020 that polls have shown to be close matches in 2024.
A Fox News poll conducted late last month found Harris leading Trump in Minnesota by six points (52%–46%) in a head-to-head match—Harris leads Trump 47%–41% in the poll when including third-party candidates such as independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (7%). That lead marks a turnaround for the Democratic ticket in Minnesota.
An Emerson College poll released one week before Biden’s disastrous debate performance found the incumbent tied 45%–45% with Trump (10% undecided). Harris trails behind Trump in the four other swing states (Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and Wisconsin), according to recent polls, and the two are tied in Michigan and Pennsylvania, according to Fox News’ poll.
Personal Life
Walz and his wife, Gwen, have two children and moved from Mankato to Saint Paul upon his election as governor. Walz, a Lutheran, has been a teetotaler since a DUI arrest in 1995. His personal experiences and professional background contribute to his approachable and relatable public persona.
Endorsements and Support
Since launching her campaign, Harris has landed major endorsements from Democrats, including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. One of her biggest endorsements came last week from former President Barack Obama.
Sources close to Obama had said the former president wanted to wait until after Biden’s Oval Office address last week to make the announcement and wanted his public endorsement to stand on its own, NBC News reported.
