Who Is Gwen Walz? All About Tim Walz's Wife and How She's Supported Him on the Campaign Road

Mar. 15, 2025

Minnesota Gov.Tim Walzand his wife, Gwen Walz, were both educators before they moved into a career in politics.

Tim, who was reported to beDemocratic presidential nomineeKamala Harris’vice presidential running matein August 2024, met Gwen while teaching in Alliance, Neb., and got married in 1994. Two years later, the couple moved to Gwen’s home state of Minnesota, where they raised their two kids, Hope and Gus, together.

Throughout Tim’s career, Gwen has been supportive, including when he was elected as the governor of Minnesota in 2018 and reelected in 2022. Now, Gwen is gearing up to possibly become the second lady of the U.S. as Tim campaigns for the vice president role alongside Harris.

“To my wife Gwen – Minnesota’s next First Lady - how can I ever thank you enough?” Tim wrote onFacebookafter his first gubernatorial election win in November 2018. “I’m grateful to you for keeping it all together for us and walking with me on this journey. I love you.”

So who is Tim Walz’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Gwen Walz and her relationship with the politician.

Gwen grew up in Minnesota

Tim Walz and Gwen Walz.Tim Walz/Facebook

Tim Walz/Facebook

Gwen was born in Glencoe, Minn., and grew up in western Minnesota alongside her three sisters. After graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Minnesota in Mankato, Minn., Gwen settled in Nebraska, where she met Tim.

Two years after the two got married, Gwen moved back to Mankato, where the couple lived until Tim was elected as governor in 2018, and they moved to the state’s capital, Saint Paul.

She is a lifelong educator and prison reform advocate

Tim Walz and Gwen Walz after voting in November 2023.Tim Walz/Instagram

Tim Walz/Instagram

While Tim was a social studies teacher, Gwen was a high school English teacher for much of her career. In her over two decades working in the Mankato school district, Gwen was an administrator and coordinator working to “eliminate the achievement gap” in the education system, per herbio.

In addition to teaching, Gwen is passionate about prison reform and bringing educational programs to incarcerated people. She was also an advocate for granting more pardons in Minnesota, speaking at a Minnesota Second Chance Coalition rally in February 2020.

“If you need a pardon, apply. Those numbers have been going down. I want them up, flood the zone because what that does is fully restores people to our community,” she said, perMPR News. “And we need each and every person in this state in our community. Rights restored, active, engaged.”

She and Tim met while teaching in Nebraska

Tim Walz stands on stage at an election night party with Gwen Walz, son Gus Walz, and daughter Hope Walz on August 14, 2018 in St Paul, Minnesota.Stephen Maturen/Getty

Stephen Maturen/Getty

Gwen and Tim first met when they were both teachers in Alliance, Neb. It was Gwen’s sister who convinced her to go out with the now-politician on a date, Tim wrote in a June 2018 birthday post for Gwen onFacebook.

After dating, Tim and Gwen moved back to Gwen’s home state and continued to teach in Mankato, where Tim was a geography teacher and a football coach. Together, they started the Educational Travel Adventures program, which coordinated summer trips to China for their high school students.

They got married in 1994

“Happy 25th anniversary to my beautiful wife, Gwen!” he wrote onFacebookin June 2019, alongside a selfie of the two of them. “It’s been a blessing to walk with you each and every day through this journey called life.”

Gwen and Tim share two kids

Tim Walz, Gwen Walz,and their kids Hope and Gus celebrating Hope’s birthday in January 2023.Tim Walz/Instagram

After getting married,Gwen and Tim welcomed their daughter, Hope, and son, Gus, together. Gus, who was born on Oct. 13, 2006, got his driver’s license in October 2023, prompting Tim to post a rare photo of him onInstagram.

“My son Gus just passed his (what do you call it? A drivers license exam?),” Tim wrote in the caption. “Proud dad moment.”

He also celebrated Hope’s senior prom onFacebook, posting that he was “so proud to be her dad” as she got ready for the event in April 2019.

Tim Walz and Gwen Walz celebrate while entering his election night party on August 14, 2018 in St Paul, Minnesota.Stephen Maturen/Getty

Growing up, Hope was a soccer player, and Gwen even admitted to keeping her daughter’s old cleats in her office after she quit the sport, she toldPBS 12in March 2019.

“After she lost in the last game, she threw her cleats off and she dropped them in the garbage can,” she said. “I couldn’t bear, it was a symbolic moment. Our family might not fail for dramatic moments.”

“She loved playing soccer, but before every game that she ever played, I said, ‘I love to watch you play Hope,’ ” Gwen added.

Gwen supports Tim in his career

Peggy Flanagan, Tim Walz, Gwen Walz, Melissa Hortman, and Kari Dziedzic at a ceremonial budget bill-signing party on May 24, 2023.Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune/Getty

Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune/Getty

Gwen has worked alongside Tim since their teaching days, and has continued to do so during his career in politics. Gwen was there when Tim signed his first bill as governor in 2019.

“I could tell when he left in the morning that he was really hopeful that I would get there,” she told PBS 12.

Now, Gwen has been on the road with Tim “almost every day without exception” as he campaigns for the vice presidency, she toldVoguein October 2024.

source: people.com