55 Facts About Tim Walz, "Kamala Harris' Pick for VP"
Before entering politics in the early 2000s, the governor of Minnesota built his career serving in the National Guard and working as a high school teacher.
TroibNews 
Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, once remarked that he never anticipated a former high school geography teacher would achieve such political heights. The thought of running for vice president seemed far-fetched to him.
However, that changed on Tuesday when the 60-year-old was selected by Vice President Kamala Harris to be her running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket. Walz, known for his dynamic and straightforward advocacy of Harris’ unexpected candidacy, was chosen after a rapid and intense vetting process, narrowly surpassing Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona.
This overview, drawn from various accounts of his 20-year political career, explores Walz's journey from being an unusual Democrat in a conservative, rural congressional district to becoming the progressive governor of Minnesota. It provides insight into the person he might become if he ascends to the vice presidency.
1. Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska, a town of just 3,500 people, but grew up in an even smaller town called Butte.
2. He graduated from Butte High School in 1982.
3. Walz attributes his values to his rural upbringing.
4. He enlisted in the Army National Guard at the age of 17.
5. Walz's state Capitol office houses a vast collection of “challenge” coins from around the world.
6. His father, a school administrator, passed away from lung cancer when Walz was 19, shaping his views on healthcare access.
7. Walz earned a social science degree from Chadron State College in 1989 and a Master of Science in educational leadership from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2001.
8. After college, he spent a year teaching in China before returning full-time to the Army.
9. He continues to speak Mandarin.
10. Walz also taught on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
11. He rose to the rank of command sergeant major before retiring from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2005, after 24 years of service.
12. Walz met his future wife, Gwen Whipple, while both were teaching in temporary classrooms.
13. The couple moved to Mankato, Minnesota, where they taught at Mankato West High School.
14. Walz taught geography and coached high school football.
15. He served as the faculty adviser for the school’s first gay-straight alliance chapter in 1999.
16. Walz, now 60, has faced criticism for appearing older than his age.
17. He has two children, Hope and Gus.
18. Both children were conceived through IVF and fertility treatments.
19. Walz's first political role was with former Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign.
20. He was motivated to join Kerry’s campaign after a student with a Kerry sticker faced security scrutiny at a George W. Bush rally.
21. Walz was elected to Congress in 2006 in a significant upset.
22. He was the highest-ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in the U.S. House.
23. Walz defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Gil Gutknecht despite being outspent significantly.
24. He won re-election five times in Minnesota’s largely rural, conservative 1st District.
25. Upon joining the House, Walz co-presided over the freshman class with Rep. Paul Hodes of New Hampshire.
26. In 2017, he became the ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
27. More than half of the bills he co-sponsored between 2015-2017 were from non-Democrats.
28. Walz once received an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association and its endorsement.
29. He later opposed the NRA and supported gun-control measures.
30. After the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, he donated NRA contributions to a nonprofit aiding military families.
31. Walz is an avid hunter.
32. In 2019, he left the House to run for governor of Minnesota and won by over 11 points.
33. Walz often defends policies like universal school meals as common sense.
34. Following George Floyd's death in 2020, his administration faced critiques for its response.
35. Recently, Walz has been credited for popularizing the Democratic Party’s latest critique of the Republican ticket.
36. In a 2023 interview with POLITICO, Walz commented on the uniqueness and "weirdness" of his opponents.
37. Walz clarified that his "weird" comment was directed specifically at Trump and Vance, not Republicans in general.
38. Former President Barack Obama praised Walz after the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party gained control of the state government.
39. Walz first met his lieutenant governor, Peggy Flanagan, through Wellstone Action.
40. Following the legalization of recreational marijuana in Minnesota, a controversial appointment led to criticism of his administration.
41. In December 2023, Walz was selected to chair the Democratic Governors Association.
42. His preferred beverage is Diet Mountain Dew.
43. Walz is a runner and participates in competitions in the Twin Cities.
44. He enjoys working on his vintage blue International Scout.
45. His custom license plates read “ONE MN,” his gubernatorial campaign slogan.
46. Walz promised his son Gus a dog if he won the governorship and kept his promise by adopting a black lab mix named Scout.
47. He and Scout visit a Twin Cities dog park daily.
48. In May, he signed a bill expanding voting rights for formerly incarcerated residents.
49. Walz has engaged in agricultural partnerships with regions in Ukraine.
50. In 2023, he signed an executive order protecting access to gender-affirming care.
51. His tater tot hot dish has won the Minnesota Congressional Delegation Hot Dish Off three times.
52. Walz enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy books with his children.
53. His favorite Bob Dylan song is “Forever Young.”
54. He volunteers at the all-you-can-drink milk booth at the Minnesota State Fair.
55. Walz is an optimist who believes in proactive government planning to avoid mishaps.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
However, that changed on Tuesday when the 60-year-old was selected by Vice President Kamala Harris to be her running mate on the Democratic presidential ticket. Walz, known for his dynamic and straightforward advocacy of Harris’ unexpected candidacy, was chosen after a rapid and intense vetting process, narrowly surpassing Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona.
This overview, drawn from various accounts of his 20-year political career, explores Walz's journey from being an unusual Democrat in a conservative, rural congressional district to becoming the progressive governor of Minnesota. It provides insight into the person he might become if he ascends to the vice presidency.
1. Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska, a town of just 3,500 people, but grew up in an even smaller town called Butte.
2. He graduated from Butte High School in 1982.
3. Walz attributes his values to his rural upbringing.
4. He enlisted in the Army National Guard at the age of 17.
5. Walz's state Capitol office houses a vast collection of “challenge” coins from around the world.
6. His father, a school administrator, passed away from lung cancer when Walz was 19, shaping his views on healthcare access.
7. Walz earned a social science degree from Chadron State College in 1989 and a Master of Science in educational leadership from Minnesota State University, Mankato in 2001.
8. After college, he spent a year teaching in China before returning full-time to the Army.
9. He continues to speak Mandarin.
10. Walz also taught on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.
11. He rose to the rank of command sergeant major before retiring from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2005, after 24 years of service.
12. Walz met his future wife, Gwen Whipple, while both were teaching in temporary classrooms.
13. The couple moved to Mankato, Minnesota, where they taught at Mankato West High School.
14. Walz taught geography and coached high school football.
15. He served as the faculty adviser for the school’s first gay-straight alliance chapter in 1999.
16. Walz, now 60, has faced criticism for appearing older than his age.
17. He has two children, Hope and Gus.
18. Both children were conceived through IVF and fertility treatments.
19. Walz's first political role was with former Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign.
20. He was motivated to join Kerry’s campaign after a student with a Kerry sticker faced security scrutiny at a George W. Bush rally.
21. Walz was elected to Congress in 2006 in a significant upset.
22. He was the highest-ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in the U.S. House.
23. Walz defeated incumbent Republican Rep. Gil Gutknecht despite being outspent significantly.
24. He won re-election five times in Minnesota’s largely rural, conservative 1st District.
25. Upon joining the House, Walz co-presided over the freshman class with Rep. Paul Hodes of New Hampshire.
26. In 2017, he became the ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
27. More than half of the bills he co-sponsored between 2015-2017 were from non-Democrats.
28. Walz once received an “A” rating from the National Rifle Association and its endorsement.
29. He later opposed the NRA and supported gun-control measures.
30. After the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, he donated NRA contributions to a nonprofit aiding military families.
31. Walz is an avid hunter.
32. In 2019, he left the House to run for governor of Minnesota and won by over 11 points.
33. Walz often defends policies like universal school meals as common sense.
34. Following George Floyd's death in 2020, his administration faced critiques for its response.
35. Recently, Walz has been credited for popularizing the Democratic Party’s latest critique of the Republican ticket.
36. In a 2023 interview with POLITICO, Walz commented on the uniqueness and "weirdness" of his opponents.
37. Walz clarified that his "weird" comment was directed specifically at Trump and Vance, not Republicans in general.
38. Former President Barack Obama praised Walz after the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party gained control of the state government.
39. Walz first met his lieutenant governor, Peggy Flanagan, through Wellstone Action.
40. Following the legalization of recreational marijuana in Minnesota, a controversial appointment led to criticism of his administration.
41. In December 2023, Walz was selected to chair the Democratic Governors Association.
42. His preferred beverage is Diet Mountain Dew.
43. Walz is a runner and participates in competitions in the Twin Cities.
44. He enjoys working on his vintage blue International Scout.
45. His custom license plates read “ONE MN,” his gubernatorial campaign slogan.
46. Walz promised his son Gus a dog if he won the governorship and kept his promise by adopting a black lab mix named Scout.
47. He and Scout visit a Twin Cities dog park daily.
48. In May, he signed a bill expanding voting rights for formerly incarcerated residents.
49. Walz has engaged in agricultural partnerships with regions in Ukraine.
50. In 2023, he signed an executive order protecting access to gender-affirming care.
51. His tater tot hot dish has won the Minnesota Congressional Delegation Hot Dish Off three times.
52. Walz enjoys reading sci-fi and fantasy books with his children.
53. His favorite Bob Dylan song is “Forever Young.”
54. He volunteers at the all-you-can-drink milk booth at the Minnesota State Fair.
55. Walz is an optimist who believes in proactive government planning to avoid mishaps.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
