Who Is Gwen? Educator And Wife Of US Democrat VP Pick Tim Walz

United States Presidential candidate Kamala Harris had announced Tim Walz as her running mate at an earlier rally in Philadelphia. The Democrat leader called him "the kind of vice-president America deserves." Walz, who has been the Governor of Minnesota since 2018, was a teacher before turning to politics. His wife, Gwen, is also an educator-cum-politician and public school administrator. 

The couple met when they were teachers in Alliance, Nebraska, and got married in 1994. They have two children, Hope and Gus. Gwen has been an indispensable part of Tim's career and is now gearing up to be the Second Lady of the US.

Who Is Gwen Walz?

Gwen Walz (Whipple) was born in Glencoe, Minnesota and grew up with three sisters. Her parents were both community school educators and small business owners. Gwen studied at Gustavus Adolphus College and Minnesota State University. She began her career as an English teacher in Nebraska.

Gwen moved back to Minnesota after marrying Tim Walz and served as an administrator and coordinator with public schools in Mankato. In 2019, she started working as a special assistant to the president of Augsburg University, working on many projects including one to train East African immigrant teachers.

Gwen is passionate about criminal justice and gun control. She has worked with the Bard Prison Initiative, a support organisation to help incarcerated people afford higher education opportunities. She has also worked to advocate for the voting rights and rehabilitation of convicted felons. 

Apart from prison reform, Gwen also works towards inclusivity of individuals with intellectual disabilities in various sectors of society. She is reportedly also on the board of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.

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Fertility Treatment Journey

At the Democratic National Convention on August 20, 2024, Tim Walz ceremonially accepted his Vice President nomination, where he also spotlighted artificial reproductive techniques and other healthcare concerns. In his emotional speech, he candidly shared his and Gwen's journey undergoing fertility treatment.

He recounted their difficult experience, sharing, "If you’ve never experienced the hell that is infertility, I guarantee you, you know somebody who has. And I can remember... the pit in your stomach when the phone would ring, and the absolute agony when we heard the treatments hadn’t worked,” he said.

“It took Gwen and me years, but we had access to fertility treatments, and when our daughter was born, we named her Hope," Tim Walz expressed. 

“Hope, Gus and Gwen, you are my entire world and I love you,” he added, as his entire family was seen in the audience, overwhelmed with emotions. After the speech, their son, Gus Walz, captured hearts when he shouted, "I love you, Dad! before turning to the camera and proudly declaring, "That's my dad!" 

According to reports, 17-year-old Gus has a nonverbal learning disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The Walzs have garnered praise for authentically sharing their journey through raising a child with neurodivergence, contrary to parents who believe in 'fixing' their children's condition.

Supporting Tim Walz's Political Career

Apart from her own distinguished career, Gwen has been a strong pillar of support for Tim Walz since he stepped into politics. She has worked with him on several projects including the establishment of Educational Travel Adventures Inc., an organization that offered annual trips for students to China.

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She has also delivered many speeches about her advocacy efforts and in favour of her husband's politics. According to reports, she is the only First Lady of Minnesota to have an office in the Minnesota State Capitol. The Democratic leader manages a policy portfolio including education and corrections.