Meet Tim Walz: Kamala Harris’ VP pick who first called Trump ‘weird,’ who had children through fertility treatments and gets carsick

Vice President Kamala Harris chose progressive Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate as the deadline approached after weeks of speculation.

Walz was one of several candidates mentioned as the Democratic nominee for vice president, as Harris campaigns in November to take on Donald Trump and J.D. Vance.

He was a favorite among some Democrats for his fierce criticism of Republicans, and was the first to start calling them “weird,” a practice that has become a hotbed of fire and a line of attack from Democrats across the board in recent weeks as the race heats up.

Despite his years of community service, Walz was largely unknown nationally before speculation emerged that he would be chosen as Harris’ running mate after President Biden withdrew from the race last month.

The 60-year-old father of two is a former U.S. congressman and schoolteacher who served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades.

Walz was first elected governor of Minnesota in 2019 and was re-elected to a second term in 2022.

Prior to that, he had represented Minnesota’s largely rural 1st Congressional District, located along the state’s southern border, in Congress since 2007.

Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska in 1964 and grew up in a rural part of the state. His father was a public school administrator. Walz’s 1982 graduating class included 25 students.

He received his bachelor’s degree from Chadron State College and later a master’s degree from Minnesota State University.

Governor Tim Walz in the summer of 1981. He enlisted in the National Guard when he was 17 and served for 24 years

The governor eventually followed his father’s example and became a teacher. In 1989, he even taught English in China for a year and now speaks Mandarin. He then moved back to Nebraska, where he became a teacher and football coach. He led the team to the state championship.

At age 17, Walz also enlisted in the National Guard. He served for 24 years before retiring as a sergeant major in 2005.

Walz married his wife Gwen, also a teacher originally from Minnesota, in 1994 and a few years later they moved to Mankato, MN. They have two children, a daughter Hope and a son Gus.

Both of Walz’s children were conceived through IVF. The governor has been an outspoken advocate of the treatment as it has gained national attention amid concerns about some Republican efforts to block it. Walz has said his daughter was named Hope after their long efforts to conceive her.

Governor Walz takes a selfie with his wife Gwen and their children Hope and Gus, both conceived through IVF and fertility treatment

Walz first ran for Congress in 2006, defeating a Republican incumbent. He was the highest-ranking soldier to serve in the House of Representatives.

He announced he would run for governor of Minnesota in 2018 after the incumbent Democrat announced he would not seek re-election.

As Governor, Walz enshrined the right to abortion, signed into law free school meals, legalized recreational marijuana, and gave former prisoners the right to vote.

A staunch ally of the LGBTQ+ community, he served as a teacher adviser for the first gay-straight alliance at the high school and later as governor during efforts to ban “conversion therapy” for youth in the state.

Walz is fond of touting his state’s access to health care. His administration has implemented drug price transparency requirements and struck a deal with Eli Lilly to cap insulin prices in the state.

Governor Walz greets Vice President Kamala Harris at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Saint Paul, Minnesota on March 14, 2024

Walz is campaigning with his wife Gwena and daughter Hope. He doesn’t drink alcohol or coffee, he’s a huge fan of Diet Mountain Dew

As the 2024 race heated up and his name was mentioned as a possible running mate for vice president, Walz appeared for a series of interviews defending Democrats and attacking Republicans.

The 60-year-old is credited with starting the trend of calling Republicans “weird” for their actions and policies.

On July 23, Walz appeared on MSNBC. It is being noted for how “weird” it went down nationally, with everyone from the Vice President to Democratic pundits weighing in.

“We don’t like what happened, that you can’t even go to Thanksgiving dinner with your uncle because you get into a weird fight that’s unnecessary,” Walz said. “Well, it’s true. These guys are just weird.”

The governor doesn’t drink alcohol or coffee, is a big fan of Diet Mountain Dew and was arrested for drunk driving in Nebraska in 1995 before he quit drinking, the Star Tribune reported.

The newspaper also reported that Walz sits in the passenger seat during his shift because he gets carsick in the backseat.

The choice to include Walz on the Democratic ticket was welcomed by progressives and could help Democrats shore up Minnesota as they focus their efforts on the other seven crucial states.

But Republicans have already embraced his liberal leanings. Last month, Walz pushed back against the idea that Democrats should not shy away from progressive values.

“What is socialism for one person is neighborliness for another,” he said.

Walz is also a runner, served in the Army National Guard and has collected hundreds of challenge coins in his office

In Minnesota, he codified abortion rights, signed into law free school meals for all, legalized recreational marijuana and gave former prisoners the right to vote.

Minnesota voted for Hillary Clinton by 1.5 percent, compared to Donald Trump. Four years later, the blue-red ratio was widened by voting for Biden by 7.1 percent, compared to the former president.

According to the Cook Political Report, the state is considered a “lean Democrat” for the 2024 elections.