Timothy James Walz, who goes by Tim Walz, is a member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL). He has served as the 41st governor of Minnesota since 2019.

The 58-year-old is seeking a second term in office. 

Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska, the son of Darlene R. and James F. “Jim” Walz. He was raised in Chadron, Nebraska, a rural community in the northwestern portion of the state.

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Walz graduated from Butte High School in a class of 25 students.

He earned a bachelor of science degree in social science education from Chadron State College. His first teaching experience was at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He moved to Minnesota in 1996. Before running for Congress in 2006, he served for 24 years in the Army National Guard and as a social studies teacher in the Mankato school district.

During his career, he worked in disaster response postings following floods and tornados. In 1989, he earned the title of Nebraska Citizen-Soldier of the Year.

Walz was the US representative for Minnesota’s 1st congressional district from 2007 to 2019. He was first elected in 2006, defeating six-term Republican incumbent Gil Gutknecht.

He was reelected five times. On November 6, 2018, Walz was elected governor, defeating the Republican nominee, Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson.

During his tenure, he had to tackle the George Floyd protests and the COVID-19 pandemic. His administration has focused on addressing the issues of racial and health inequality.

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Walz and his wife Gwen married in 1994. The duo lived in Mankato, Minnesota, for nearly 20 years before moving to Saint Paul with their two children.

Walz’s brother Craig was killed by a falling tree during a storm in 2016. He was survived by his wife Julie, and their son Jacob, who suffered severe injuries but survived. Walz is Lutheran.