The son of a public school administrator and community activist, Tim Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska on April 6, 1964. Raised in a rural community, Walz spent his summers farming with his extended family. In 1982, Tim Walz graduated from Butte High School along side his 24 classmates.

During his adolescence, Tim's parents instilled in him the Catholic values that propelled him into a life of service. When Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard at the young age of 17, he had no way of knowing he would spend more than two decades serving America as a member of the Guard. After high school, Walz worked a number of odd jobs before accepting a temporary teaching position at the Native American Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. It was his experience at the Pine Ridge reservation that convinced Tim to follow his father's lead and become an educator.

In 1989, Walz earned a B.S. in social science education from Chadron State College in Nebraska. That year he earned the title of Nebraska Citizen-Soldier of the Year.

With his teaching degree complete, Harvard University offered Walz an opportunity to gain a new perspective on global education by teaching in the People's Republic of China. Working in China during 1989-1990, Walz was a member of one of the first government sanctioned groups of American educators to teach in Chinese high schools.

Following his return, Tim seized the opportunity to develop a program of cooperation between American and Chinese students that continues to this day. Walz established a small business called Educational Travel Adventures, Inc. through which he conducts annual educational trips to China for high school students. The business includes a scholarship program that allows students to travel and study in China regardless of their financial situation.

Over the years, Walz has also served as a visiting Fellow of International Relations at the Macau Polytechnic University, a position that helped develop his knowledge of China's unique international status.

Upon his return to the U.S. in 1990, Walz served full-time in the Army National Guard. He subsequently accepted a position teaching and coaching in Nebraska where he met his wife, Gwen Whipple. In 1993, Walz was named the Outstanding Young Nebraskan by the Nebraska Junior Chamber of Commerce for his service in the education, military, and small business communities.

Married in 1994, Tim and Gwen Walz moved to Mankato, Minnesota two years later. The couple accepted positions teaching and coaching at Mankato West High School where Tim continues to teach today.

Tim Walz's inspiring approach to teaching has gained him recognition as the 2002 Minnesota Ethics in Education award winner, 2003 Mankato Teacher of the Year, and the 2003 Minnesota Teacher of Excellence. Walz completed his master's degree in educational leadership in 2001 and is currently working on his doctorate at St. Mary's University in Winona, Minnesota.

After 24 years in the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in the spring of 2005. Prior to retiring, Walz served overseas with his battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Tim and Gwen have a five year old daughter named Hope and a son, born October 13, 2006 named Gus.

Governor Walz is a champion for America's working families. He enlisted in the Army National Guard when he turned 17 and served for 24 years, rising to the rank of Command Sergeant Major. After attending college thanks to the GI Bill, Tim Walz served his community as a high school teacher and football coach — taking his team to the state championship for the first time in the school's history. He became a member of Congress in a Republican district by representing the needs of farmers and rural America. As Governor, Tim Walz cut taxes for working families, lowered the cost of insulin and eliminated junk fees, and protected women's right to choose. That experience makes him the ideal running mate for Kamala Harris, who has taken on the big banks, led the fight for reproductive freedom, and stood with our allies against Putin's aggression during her time as a prosecutor, Attorney General, Senator, and Vice President.

Their shared commitment to working families draws a complete contrast to Donald Trump and J.D. Vance. Instead of making life better for working families or focusing on our future, Trump and Vance are committed to their extreme and dangerous Project 2025 agenda that will roll back Americans' rights and freedoms, hurt the middle class, and threaten our democracy.

As Governor, Walz has done more to help middle class families get ahead than any other statewide leader in recent memory. He lowered the cost of insulin to $35 per month for many Minnesotans. He eliminated junk fees. And, he signed paid leave into law so that parents can take care of sick family members without losing their jobs. Governor Walz stood up for fundamental freedoms and made Minnesota the first state to pass a law codifying abortion rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe. He funded Minnesota police departments, putting more cops on the street and investing in body cameras, and established universal background checks for gun purchases. And, he worked across the aisle to pass a bipartisan infrastructure package.

A lifelong Midwesterner, Governor Walz grew up working on his family farm. He enlisted in the Army National Guard when he turned 17, following in his father's — a veteran — footsteps. During his 24 years of National Guard service, he specialized in heavy artillery and retired as the highest-ranking enlisted National Guard soldier in southern Minnesota. Governor Walz went to college on the GI Bill.

Governor Walz is a gun owner, avid pheasant hunter, and supporter of the Second Amendment — and he, like millions of gun owners, believes that Congress must do more to tackle gun violence in our communities. As Governor, he established universal background checks for gun purchases.

For six terms, Governor Walz represented Minnesota's First Congressional District — a conservative-leaning district where he was only the second Democrat elected since 1890. The son of an Army veteran who served as a command sergeant major, Walz was the ranking member on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, where he passed legislation to help stem veterans' suicides.

Governor Walz met his wife Gwen teaching high school in Nebraska before moving to Gwen's home state of Minnesota. A former union member, Tim taught high school for two decades, including helping lead the Mankato West football team to their first state championship.

Governor Walz and Mrs. Walz have two children, Hope and Gus. Governor Walz and Mrs. Walz struggled with years of fertility challenges and had their daughter, Hope, through reproductive health care like IVF — further cementing his commitment to ensuring all Americans have access to this care.