Tim Walz, a politician, teacher, and National Guard member was born April 6, 1964, in West Point, Nebraska. Raised in small-town Nebraska, Walz graduated from a public high school, followed by attending Chadron State College and also has a degree from what is now known as Minnesota State University in Mankato.
As a teacher, Walz taught social studies and civics in Nebraska and Minnesota. He also coached high school football.
Walz was a member of the Army National Guard, achieving a high rank for an enlisted member before retiring in 2005 after 24 years.
Walz was elected as a Democrat in Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District in 2006 and reelected to five more terms. He won Minnesota governorship in 2018 and reelected in 2022. He also is currently chair of the Democratic Governors Association.
An all-Democratic power structure at Minnesota’s Capitol in recent years has given Walz the ability to deliver a stream of policies celebrated in progressive circles, ranging from abortion protections to universal school meals to marijuana legalization. But his tenure includes stumbles and challenges – from dealing with COVID-19 disruptions to unrest sparked by George Floyd’s murder to suggestions his administration hasn’t always been attentive to where tax dollars go.
More recent Walz audio highlights of can be found at https://www.mprnews.org/politics/tim-walz and the MPR News homepage https://www.mprnews.org/
August 31, 2018 - At MPR Day at the Minnesota State Fair, MPR’s Mike Mulcahy hosts a gubernatorial debate at Dan Patch Park between U.S. Representative Tim Walz, the DFL candidate; and Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson, the GOP candidate. The two spar over Trump, schools, gun control measures, and how to slow the rising cost of health care. The stakes are high for both parties. Republicans have complete control of the Legislature and could control all of state government if they win the governor's office this fall, but they haven't managed to win a statewide race in more than a decade.
September 19, 2018 - Republican Jeff Johnson and DFLer Tim Walz challenged the other’s approach to education during a Minnesota governor’s race forum. The debate was focused mostly on developing the next-generation workforce for high-demand jobs. Other topics included achievement gap between white students and students of color and restructuring of public schools.
October 3, 2018 - MPR’s Brian Bakst has a look at Walz's military service and how it has shaped him. During his two decades, Walz was part of flood fights, responded to tornadoes, and spent months on active duty deployed overseas. Segment includes interviews military members who served with Walz.
October 10, 2018 - MPR’s Tim Pugmire reports that the two major-party candidates for governor tangled in Willmar over who would best address the needs of rural Minnesota. Republican Jeff Johnson and Democrat Tim Walz spent 90 minutes debating transportation, health care, immigration, and other issues.
October 16, 2018 - MPR’s Brian Bakst takes a look at the congressional career of U.S. Representative Tim Walz, who is seen as playing a bi-partisan role by some fellow legislators. Bakst highlights items such as Walz’s efforts on the Stock Act and Suicide Prevention Act.
November 7, 2018 - MPR’s Brian Bakst reports that Tim Walz, a former teacher and sergeant in the National Guard, is Minnesota's governor-elect. Walz joined a DFL sweep of statewide offices in a year when the party also regained control of the state House. Republicans retained the Minnesota Senate.
November 8, 2018 - MPR’s Brian Bakst reports that Governor-elect Tim Walz has begun the process of forming a new administration. When the DFLer takes over in January, he’ll inherit a far better situation than his predecessor Mark Dayton did when he came in eight years ago….but there are some immediate challenges on the horizon. Bakst caught up with Walz during his first stop at the Capitol since his victory.
December 4, 2018 - MPR’s Brian Bakst reports that Governor-elect Tim Walz finished a statewide tour where he invited people to apply for administration jobs and asked for their advice on where to focus. Along the way, Walz returned often to his “One Minnesota” campaign theme. In some rural communities, Walz found a wary audience.
January 3, 2019 - All Things Considered’s Host Tom Crann and MPR’s Brain Bakst discuss some of the picks for Gov.-elect Tim Walz's administration, as the DFLer decided who would run the state's agriculture, natural resources, health and human services departments.
January 4, 2019 - All Things Considered’s Host Tom Crann and MPR’s Briana Bierschbach discuss further picks for Gov.-elect Tim Walz's administration. Walz announced department commissioners for employment and economic development, commerce, revenue, and labor and industry, as well as three others agencies.