--- title: Who Is Gwen Walz, Tim Walz’s Wife? description: From her time as a teacher to her family life to her advocacy areas, here's what to know about Gwen Walz. canonical: https://time.com/7012973/gwen-walz-tim-dnc-teacher/ author: Chantelle Lee article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2024-08-20T19:16:11.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:50:20.159Z article:section: Politics og:title: Who Is Gwen Walz, Tim Walz’s Wife? og:description: From her time as a teacher to her family life to her advocacy areas, here's what to know about Gwen Walz. og:url: https://time.com/7012973/gwen-walz-tim-dnc-teacher/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt333c30942fd88bfc/698a5a1a18689208ac6c867e/GettyImages-2166797985.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: Day One Of The 2024 Democratic National Convention og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Who Is Gwen Walz, Tim Walz’s Wife? twitter:description: From her time as a teacher to her family life to her advocacy areas, here's what to know about Gwen Walz. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt333c30942fd88bfc/698a5a1a18689208ac6c867e/GettyImages-2166797985.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Who Is Gwen Walz, Tim Walz’s Wife? > Sponsored content. 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It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=1e899462-78bf-4104-9582-699bd82aada0&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Twice a week | time.com/newsletters, September 2026 | | Written by | Philip Elliott, Senior Correspondent | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership The policy influence ecosystem. A policy-focused audience spanning government, public affairs, advocacy, law, research, political media, and the institutions that make, interpret and respond to public policy. ### TIME D.C. Brief: key statements * D.C. Brief is edited by TIME journalists. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=1e899462-78bf-4104-9582-699bd82aada0&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Kamala Harris Introduces Running Mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at Rally in Philadelphia [Watch (HLS stream): Kamala Harris Introduces Running Mate Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at Rally in Philadelphia](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/vZrdJ2Rt.m3u8) (5:09)  _Published 2024-08-07. Kamala Harris has chosen Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate for the 2024 presidential election, elevating the progressive midwestern Democrat whose clear and caustic messaging about former President Donald Trump—labeling him “weird”—has gone viral in recent weeks._ by [Chantelle Lee](https://time.com/author/chantelle-lee/) ## Chantelle Lee Reporter Aug 20, 2024 7:16 PM UTC  Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota and Democratic vice-presidential nominee, left, and Gwen Walz, wife of Tim Walz, during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, US, on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota and Democratic vice-presidential nominee, left, and Gwen Walz, wife of Tim Walz, during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, US, on Monday, Aug. 19, 2024. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg— Getty Images by [Chantelle Lee](https://time.com/author/chantelle-lee/) ## Chantelle Lee Reporter Aug 20, 2024 7:16 PM UTC The [Democratic National Convention](https://time.com/7011508/dnc-where-when-speakers/) kicked off in Chicago on Monday with the [Illinois delegation breakfast](https://www.axios.com/local/chicago/2024/08/19/gwen-walz-illinois-delegation-breakfast), which featured a surprise speaker: Gwen Walz, the wife of Minnesota governor and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. Speaking to the delegates, lawmakers, and journalists in the room, Gwen Walz shared that she and her husband met while teaching at the same school—and that she and her family love to visit Chicago for their New Year’s Eve celebrations, according to [POLITICO](https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2024/08/19/dnc-live-updates-coverage/gwen-walz-speaks-chicago-00174593). She went on to express support for Vice President Kamala Harris, who announced earlier this month that [she chose Tim Walz as her running mate](https://time.com/7007841/kamala-harris-vice-president-tim-walz/) for the 2024 presidential election. “I can’t think of a better team than Kamala and Tim,” Gwen [said](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOQigjbR-yU&list=RDNSWOQigjbR-yU&start%5Fradio=1) at the breakfast. “They want to give everyone a chance at the American Dream. And isn’t that what we all want?” Tim Walz introduced his wife as he joined the presidential ticket: “I can’t wait for all of you and America to get to know my incredible wife, Gwen, a 29-year public school educator,” he [said](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/08/06/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-and-governor-tim-walz-at-a-campaign-event/) at a rally in Philadelphia earlier this month. “Don’t ever underestimate teachers.” Here’s what to know about Gwen Walz. ## **She was a teacher** Gwen Walz, 58, was [born](https://mn.gov/governor/about-gov/gwenwalz/) in Glencoe, Minn. Her parents were both teachers and small business owners, and she has three younger sisters. She earned degrees from Gustavus Adolphus College and Minnesota State University before moving to Nebraska, where she followed in her parents’ footsteps and began teaching. While teaching high schoolEnglish there, she met Tim Walz, who was a teacher at the same school. They went to a movie for their first date, and Gwen later told [The Minnesota Star _Tribune_](https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-s-first-first-lady-since-2010-gwen-walz-is-taking-on-a-big-role/505594802) that she turned down a kiss from him, prompting her now-husband to respond: “That’s fine, but you should know I’m going to marry you.” They got married in 1994. > [](https://twitter.com/GovTimWalz/status/1533132631285669890) They later moved back to Minnesota and started working at Mankato West High School, whereshe taught English andhe taught social studies. The Walzes have two children: Hope, 23, and Gus, 17\. They have been [outspoken](https://www.glamour.com/story/gwen-walz-is-sharing-her-fertility-struggles-for-the-first-time) about how they struggled with infertility, and have [criticized](https://time.com/7008952/tim-walz-ivf-kamala-harris/) Republican-led efforts to roll back reproductive health care, including fertility treatments like [in vitro fertilization](https://time.com/7005892/ivf-under-attack-fetal-personhood/) (IVF). **Read More:** [_Where Tim Walz Stands on the Issues_](https://time.com/7008402/tim-walz-policy-positions-abortion-guns-immigration/) ## **She’s an advocate for education access in prisons** Gwen Walz has been a vocal supporter of increasing access to education for people who are incarcerated. She’s toured prisons and worked with the Bard Prison Initiative, which aims to provide college educational opportunities in prisons. “She was a devoted Midwestern public school teacher who approached education without prejudice or presumption about what kind of students might achieve what kinds of things and a real optimism for all kinds of students,” Bard Prison Initiative founder Max Kenner told [USA TODAY](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/08/07/tim-walz-wife-gwen-education-views/74690566007/). “She also had a real frustration, or even feeling of disappointment, of how much we’ve failed in this country to create real educational opportunities for so many people, particularly access to college.” ## **She’s taken on a role alongside her husband’s political career** Gwen Walz has previously [said](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-what-if-it-works-120670923/episode/ep-51-the-power-of-purpose-driven-196481809/) that she and her husband “have always worked as a partnership,” describing themselves as each other’s “closest advisers.” She has taken on an involved role as a political spouse—she was the first gubernatorial spouse in Minnesota to establish her own office in the state Capitol, according to the [Star _Tribune_](https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-s-first-first-lady-since-2010-gwen-walz-is-taking-on-a-big-role/505594802). She’s even filled in for her husband before—[The New York _Times_](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/14/style/gwen-walz-tim-walz-minnesota.html) reported that she took the stage in Tim Walz’s place at a 2006 fundraising dinner for her husband’s congressional campaign after he had gotten sick with laryngitis. ## Transcript On behalf of myself and the first second gentleman of the United States, my husband Doug Ma. Thank you for the warm welcome. So Philadelphia, I launched my campaign for the President of the United States emir two weeks ago. And it's been a bit of a whirlwind. And just last night, the delegates to the Democratic National Convention finished voting. And so I stand I stand before you today to proudly announce I am now officially the Democratic nominee for president of the United States. Since the day that I announced my candidacy, I set out to find a partner who can help build this brighter future. A leader who will help unite our nation and move us forward. A fighter for the middle class, a patriot who believes as I do in the extraordinary promise of America. A promise a promise a freedom, opportunity, and justice, not just for some, but for all. So, Pennsylvania, I'm here today because I found such a leader. Governor Tim Waltz of the Great State of Minnesota. And to his former high school football players, he was coach. Coach. Coach. And in 91 days, the nation will know Coach Waltz by another name, Vice President of the United States. And as I think everyone here can see, Tim Walz was the kind of teacher and mentor that every child in America dreams of having and that every kid deserves. The kind of coach, because he's the kind of person who makes people feel like they belong and then inspires them to dream big. And that's the kind of vice president he will be. And now Welcome the next Vice President of the United States, Tim Wall. Wow. Thank you, Philadelphia. Thank you, Madam Vice President for the trust you put in me, but maybe more so, thank you for bringing back the joy. I'm thrilled to be on this journey with you and Doug, this incredible journey. And Pennsylvania, I know you know this. But my God, what a treasure you have in Josh Shapiro. And I can't wait for all of you and America to get to know my incredible wife, Gwen, a 29 year public school educator. Don't ever underestimate teachers. And our two beautiful kids, Hope and Goss. I couldn't be prouder to be on this ticket. And to help Vice President Harris become, what we all know, is very, very good for us to think about. 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