Before becoming Vice President Harris’s running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a 60-year-old Midwestern Democrat, was deeply rooted in education as a high school teacher and football coach. His time as an educator not only shaped his political career but also had a profound impact on his personal life, leading him to meet his wife, Gwen, while teaching in rural Nebraska.
From shared classrooms to shared lives
Tim Walz’s journey to Minnesota began with Gwen, who was born and raised in the state.The two met in Nebraska, where they both taught at Alliance High School—Gwen in English and Tim in social studies, as reported by the Washington Post. “We even shared a classroom with a divider down the middle,” Gwen recalled in a 2019 interview with Minnesota Public Radio. “Later on, we taught together in Minnesota too.”
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Gwen first noticed Tim’s engaging teaching style by overhearing his lively lessons. Their first date? A screening of the 1993 dark dramedy Falling Down starring Michael Douglas, followed by a meal at Hardee’s.
The couple married in June 1994 and chose to spend their honeymoon in China, leading an educational trip for students. Gwen, a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and Minnesota State University at Mankato, convinced Tim to move to Minnesota two years after their wedding. Both continued their teaching careers at Mankato West High School, where Tim also coached football. Gwen eventually transitioned into an administrative role with Mankato Area Public Schools, a position she held until 2019 when Tim became governor.
Advocate for education and prison reform
With a diverse teaching background that includes public, alternative, and migrant schools, Gwen Walz has been a passionate advocate for education throughout her career. Her commitment to education often intersects with her dedication to prison reform.
As Minnesota’s first lady, Gwen has championed efforts to restore voting rights for felons who have completed their sentences and to expand educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals. One of the initiatives she supports is the Bard Prison Initiative, which offers college education to inmates in New York. Gwen’s interest in prison reform stems from her belief that education is a “transformational piece” for individuals, as she explained to Minnesota Public Radio.
“She has worked across the country to bring educational opportunities to incarcerated women and men, whom she calls ‘students,’” her biography from the Minnesota Governor’s Office states. “Gwen believes that by integrating education into our corrections system, we can significantly reduce recidivism rates and truly transform lives.”
Influential partner in policy
When Tim Walz took office as governor in 2019, Minnesota had not had a first lady in eight years, as his predecessor, Mark Dayton, was unmarried. Gwen not only embraced the role but also redefined it by becoming the first Minnesota first lady to have an office in the Capitol.
“We’ve always worked closely together,” Gwen said in a 2019 interview with Minnesota Public Radio. “Tim suggested I have a desk in his office, but I chose to set up my own down the hall.”
Gwen played a key role in the hiring process for the new commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Corrections and has been a vocal advocate for gun control measures supported by her husband’s administration. In 2019, she joined others in rallying at the Minnesota Capitol, urging the Republican-controlled state Senate to vote on expanding background checks and implementing a red-flag law. According to the Star Tribune, she didn’t shy away from political consequences for those who opposed the measures.
“If they don’t put it to a vote, there are seven senators in districts where Tim Walz won—and we’re coming for them,” she warned.
A family of four (plus two pets)
The Walz family includes their two children, Hope, 23, and Gus, 17. Earlier this year, Tim Walz shared that he and Gwen underwent IVF treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He spoke out about the procedure to show his support after an Alabama Supreme Court ruling threatened to limit access to IVF, pushing the topic into the national spotlight.
In September 2019, the family introduced their newest member: Scout, a 3-month-old black Lab mix they rescued. The governor’s office announced Scout’s arrival with a playful nod to Tim’s campaign promise to Gus. On election night in 2018, then-12-year-old Gus excitedly proclaimed, “I get a dog!” upon hearing of his father’s victory.
Last Christmas, the family expanded again, adopting Honey, an orange and white rescue cat, after their previous cat, Afton, wandered away.
From shared classrooms to shared lives
Tim Walz’s journey to Minnesota began with Gwen, who was born and raised in the state.The two met in Nebraska, where they both taught at Alliance High School—Gwen in English and Tim in social studies, as reported by the Washington Post. “We even shared a classroom with a divider down the middle,” Gwen recalled in a 2019 interview with Minnesota Public Radio. “Later on, we taught together in Minnesota too.”
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Gwen first noticed Tim’s engaging teaching style by overhearing his lively lessons. Their first date? A screening of the 1993 dark dramedy Falling Down starring Michael Douglas, followed by a meal at Hardee’s.
The couple married in June 1994 and chose to spend their honeymoon in China, leading an educational trip for students. Gwen, a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and Minnesota State University at Mankato, convinced Tim to move to Minnesota two years after their wedding. Both continued their teaching careers at Mankato West High School, where Tim also coached football. Gwen eventually transitioned into an administrative role with Mankato Area Public Schools, a position she held until 2019 when Tim became governor.
Advocate for education and prison reform
With a diverse teaching background that includes public, alternative, and migrant schools, Gwen Walz has been a passionate advocate for education throughout her career. Her commitment to education often intersects with her dedication to prison reform.
As Minnesota’s first lady, Gwen has championed efforts to restore voting rights for felons who have completed their sentences and to expand educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals. One of the initiatives she supports is the Bard Prison Initiative, which offers college education to inmates in New York. Gwen’s interest in prison reform stems from her belief that education is a “transformational piece” for individuals, as she explained to Minnesota Public Radio.
“She has worked across the country to bring educational opportunities to incarcerated women and men, whom she calls ‘students,’” her biography from the Minnesota Governor’s Office states. “Gwen believes that by integrating education into our corrections system, we can significantly reduce recidivism rates and truly transform lives.”
Influential partner in policy
When Tim Walz took office as governor in 2019, Minnesota had not had a first lady in eight years, as his predecessor, Mark Dayton, was unmarried. Gwen not only embraced the role but also redefined it by becoming the first Minnesota first lady to have an office in the Capitol.
“We’ve always worked closely together,” Gwen said in a 2019 interview with Minnesota Public Radio. “Tim suggested I have a desk in his office, but I chose to set up my own down the hall.”
Gwen played a key role in the hiring process for the new commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Corrections and has been a vocal advocate for gun control measures supported by her husband’s administration. In 2019, she joined others in rallying at the Minnesota Capitol, urging the Republican-controlled state Senate to vote on expanding background checks and implementing a red-flag law. According to the Star Tribune, she didn’t shy away from political consequences for those who opposed the measures.
“If they don’t put it to a vote, there are seven senators in districts where Tim Walz won—and we’re coming for them,” she warned.
A family of four (plus two pets)
The Walz family includes their two children, Hope, 23, and Gus, 17. Earlier this year, Tim Walz shared that he and Gwen underwent IVF treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He spoke out about the procedure to show his support after an Alabama Supreme Court ruling threatened to limit access to IVF, pushing the topic into the national spotlight.
In September 2019, the family introduced their newest member: Scout, a 3-month-old black Lab mix they rescued. The governor’s office announced Scout’s arrival with a playful nod to Tim’s campaign promise to Gus. On election night in 2018, then-12-year-old Gus excitedly proclaimed, “I get a dog!” upon hearing of his father’s victory.
Last Christmas, the family expanded again, adopting Honey, an orange and white rescue cat, after their previous cat, Afton, wandered away.