Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska, the son of Darlene R. and James F. "Jim" Walz. The son of a public school administrator and community activist, Walz was raised in Chadron, Nebraska, a rural community in the northwestern portion of the state.
Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1981 and served for 24 years.[9] Over his military career, he had postings in Arkansas, Texas, the Arctic Circle, New Ulm, Minnesota, and elsewhere.[9] He worked in heavy artillery.[9] During his career, he worked in disaster response postings following floods and tornados and was deployed overseas on active duty for months, although he never saw combat.[9] In 1989, he earned the title of Nebraska Citizen-Soldier of the Year.[10] Walz attained the rank of command sergeant major near the end of his career, but retired as a master sergeant in 2005 for benefit purposes because he did not complete coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.[9] He resumed teaching as a geography teacher and football coach at Mankato West High School.[7]
Walz and his wife, Gwen, ran Educational Travel Adventures, accompanying high school juniors and seniors on summer educational trips to China.
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
Walz decided to run for Congress in 2006.[11] He had no opponent for the DFL nomination in the September 12, 2006 primary election. He beat incumbent RepublicanGil Gutknecht in the general election on November 7, and took office on January 3, 2007. After the election, Gutknecht was described as having been caught "off guard" and Walz as having "resolved never to get caught like that himself.... He packaged himself as a moderate from Day One, built an office centered on constituent service and carved out a niche as a tireless advocate for veterans."[12]
Walz was reelected in 2008 with 62% of the vote, becoming only the second non-Republican to win a second full term in the district. He won a third term in 2010, defeating State RepresentativeRandy Demmer with 50% of the vote. He was reelected in 2012, 2014, and 2016.[13]
Upon his swearing in, Walz became the highest-ranking retired enlisted soldier ever to serve in Congress,[14] as well as only the fourth Democrat/DFLer to represent his district. The others were Thomas Wilson (1887–1889), William Harries (1891–1893), and Tim Penny (1983–1995).
Even as he represented a district that had usually voted Republican, pundits described Walz's stated policy positions as ranging from moderate to liberal.[18] He voted against the act to Prohibit Federally Funded Abortion Services,[19] and to advance the Affordable Care Act out of the House.[20] He also voted to continue funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan,[21] and against the 2008 TARP bill, which purchased troubled assets from financial institutions.[22]
Walz received a 100% rating from Planned Parenthood in 2012, from the ACLU in 2011, from the American Immigration Lawyers Association in 2009–2010, from the AFL–CIO in 2010, from the Teamsters in 2009–2010, and from NOW in 2007. He also received single-digit ratings from the National Taxpayers' Union, Citizens against Government Waste, Americans for Tax Reform, and Freedom Works. The United States Chamber of Commerce gave him a 25% rating in 2010.[23] Walz was ranked the 7th most bipartisan member of the House during the 114th Congress (and the most bipartisan member from Minnesota) in the Bipartisan Index created by The Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy that ranks members of Congress by measuring how often their bills attract co-sponsors from the opposite party and how often they co-sponsor bills by members of the opposite party.[24]
During the campaign, two senior NCOs of the Minnesota National Guard falsely accused Walz of fabricating facts about his service and lying about his military rank.[31] The allegation about his military rank was debunked.[32]
Walz sought reelection in 2022.[33] He won the August 9 Democratic primary and faced Republican nominee Scott Jensen in the November general election. On November 8, 2022, Walz defeated Jensen, 52.3% to 44.6%. Though Jensen fared better than Walz's opponent had in 2018 and made gains against Walz in Greater Minnesota, he did not overcome Walz's lead in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area.[34][35]
Tenure
Tim Walz's swearing-in as Minnesota's 41st governor
Walz was sworn in as governor of Minnesota on January 7, 2019, at the Fitzgerald Theater in Saint Paul. Walz took the oath of office alongside incoming Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, Minnesota State Auditor Julie Blaha, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, all Democrats.[36] Walz spoke about education and healthcare reform in his inauguration speech.[37]
On May 26, 2020, the day after the murder of George Floyd, Walz and lieutenant governor Peggy Flanagan demanded justice and called the video of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on George Floyd's neck "disturbing".[38] Walz elaborated, "The lack of humanity in this disturbing video is sickening. We will get answers and seek justice".[38]
Walz's initial response to the widespread protests following Floyd's murder was criticized by political opponents and other groups.[39][40] He later responded to the murder by ordering the Minnesota legislature to reconvene for special sessions on legislation for police reform and accountability.[41] After police reform failed to pass the first special session in June,[42] a second special session was held in July.[43] On July 21, the legislature passed major police reform legislation.[44] The new compromise law includes a limited ban on police from using chokeholds so long as the officers are not at greater risk.[44] It bans the old warrior training program, which was regarded as dehumanizing people and encouraging aggressive conduct.[44] It requires training peace officers to deal with people with autism or in a mental health crisis and deescalation training for situations that could turn volatile.[44] It also creates a special independent unit at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for investigations of fatal police encounters and a community relations advisory council to consult with the Police Officers Standards and Training Board on policy changes.[44] Walz signed the legislation into law on July 23.[45]
Walz oversaw the 93rd Minnesota Legislature, which was in session from January to May 2023. The first legislature to be fully DFL-controlled since the 88th Minnesota Legislature in 2013-15, it passed several major reforms to Minnesota law, including requiring paid leave, banning noncompete agreements, cannabis legalization, increased spending on infrastructure and environmental issues, tax modifications, codifying abortion rights, universal free school meals, and universal gun background checks.[48] The Star Tribune called the session "one of the most consequential" ever in Minnesota; Walz called it the "most productive session in Minnesota history".[48] While Walz signed almost all legislation passed by the legislature, he vetoed a bill intended to increase pay for rideshare drivers, his first veto as governor, saying that it did not strike the right balance.[49][50]
Political positions
Walz at the signing ceremony for House File 100 in May 2023. He is joined by Minnesota's 38th governor, Jesse Ventura.
Cannabis
Walz has advocated for the legalization of recreational cannabis as governor of Minnesota.[51][52][53] As a candidate for governor in 2017, he said: "We have an opportunity in Minnesota to replace the current failed policy with one that creates tax revenue, grows jobs, builds opportunities for Minnesotans, protects Minnesota kids, and trusts adults to make personal decisions based on their personal freedoms."[54] In 2022, he proposed the creation of a Cannabis Management Office to develop and implement the "regulatory framework for adult-use cannabis" in Minnesota.[55][56] On May 30, 2023, he signed into law House File 100 to legalize recreational cannabis in Minnesota.[57][58]
Economic issues
During the economic crisis in 2008, Walz repeatedly spoke out against using taxpayer money to bail out financial institutions; in late September he voted against the $700 billion TARP bill, which purchased troubled assets from these institutions.[59] Walz released a statement after the bill's passage, saying, "The bill we voted on today passes the buck when it comes to recouping the losses taxpayers might suffer. I also regret that this bill does not do enough to help average homeowners, or provide sufficient oversight of Wall Street."[60] For the same reasons, in December 2008 he voted against the bill that offered $14 billion in government loans to bail out the country's large automobile manufacturers.[61] In June 2009 Walz introduced a bipartisan resolution calling on the federal government to "relinquish its temporary ownership interests in the General Motors Corporation and Chrysler Group, LLC, as soon as possible" and stated that the government must not be involved in those companies' management decisions.[62]
Despite his votes against bailout bills that loaned taxpayer money to large banks and auto manufacturers, Walz did vote with his Democratic colleagues to support the 2009 American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. As a member of the House Transportation Committee, Walz saw the stimulus bill as an opportunity to work "with his congressional colleagues to make job creation through investment in public infrastructure like roads, bridges and clean energy the cornerstone of the economic recovery plan".[63] Walz has focused heavily on job and economic issues important to his southern Minnesota district, which has a mix of larger employers like the Mayo Clinic along with small businesses and agricultural interests. In July 2009 he voted for the Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act, which he described as "part of our long-term economic blueprint to spur job creation by encouraging America's entrepreneurs to innovate toward breakthrough technological advancements".[64][65] Walz also urged assistance for hog and dairy farmers who struggled with lower prices for their commodities in 2008 and 2009.[66]
Education
Walz was a public school teacher for 20 years. He opposes using merit pay for teachers.[67] Voting in favor of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Walz pointed to its strong provisions in support of public school buildings.[68][69] Walz is on record supporting legislation to lower tuition costs.[70] In a February 12, 2009 speech, he said that the most important thing to do "to ensure a solid base for [America's] economic future … is to provide the best education possible for [American] children."[71] He has received strong backing for these policies from many interest groups, including the National Education Association, the American Association of University Women and the National Association of Elementary School Principals.[72]
Guns
While in Congress, Walz was a strong supporter of gun rights and was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) multiple times, receiving an A grade from the organization.[73][74] Following the Parkland high school shooting in 2018, he denounced the NRA in a Star Tribune opinion piece, and announced that he would donate the equivalent of all of the campaign contributions the NRA-PVF had given him—$18,000—to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.[75] As governor, Walz expressed support for gun regulation.[76] In 2023, he signed into law a public safety bill that establishes universal background checks and red-flag laws in Minnesota.[77]
Walz supports LGBT rights, including federal anti-discrimination laws on the basis of sexual orientation.[67] In a 2009 speech he called for an end to the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Walz voted in favor of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act and the Sexual Orientation Employment Nondiscrimination Act. In 2007, he received a 90% grade from the Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT organization.[23] In 2011, Walz announced his support for the Respect for Marriage Act.[78]
Veterans' issues
Having served 24 years in the Army National Guard, as a freshman in Congress he was given a rare third committee membership when he was assigned to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.[79] Walz has championed enhanced veterans benefits since taking office in 2007. In May of that year the House unanimously passed his "Traumatic Brain Injuries Center Act" to set up five centers around the nation to study traumatic brain injuries and develop improved models for caring for veterans suffering from such injuries.[80]
Walz also supported the GI Bill of 2008, which expanded education benefits for veterans and in some cases allowed them to transfer education benefits to family members.[81] In 2009, Walz gave the keynote address at the American Legion National Convention in Louisville. He spoke about the need for the VA and Department of Defense to work together to make sure that returning service men and women "do not fall through the cracks when they transition to civilian life".[82]
Walz was the lead House sponsor of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, which directs the Veterans Administration to report on veteran mental health care and suicide prevention programs. It also gives the VA permission to provide incentives to psychiatrists who agree to join the VA medical system.[83]
Walz and his wife Gwen married in 1994. They lived in Mankato, Minnesota, for nearly 20 years before moving to Saint Paul with their two children upon his election as governor.[85]
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.[86]
^114th Congress (2015) (January 7, 2015). "H.R. 203 (114th)". Legislation. GovTrack.us. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved June 18, 2016. Clay Hunt SAV Act((cite web)): CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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