Tim Walz is an American politician who has served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Minnesota's 1st congressional district and as the 41st Governor of Minnesota. Walz is married to Gwen Walz, a public school administrator. The couple has two children, Hope and Gus.
Immediate family
editGwen Walz
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Gwen Walz (née Whipple, born June 15, 1966) is Tim Walz's wife. She was raised in Ivanhoe, Minnesota and graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and Minnesota State University, Mankato. She met Tim while working as an English teacher in Alliance, Nebraska, where Tim was a social science teacher. The couple had their first date at a movie theater and a Hardee's. They got married in 1994. They organized a student trip to China, which they continued until 2003. The couple received fertility treatment at Mayo Clinic for seven years.[1][2]
Gwen and Tim moved to Mankato, Minnesota in 1996, and both worked at Mankato West High School. She joined the New York organization Bard Prison Initiative during Tim's tenure in the House of Representatives. Upon becoming the First Lady of Minnesota and moving to St. Paul, she got a job at Augsburg University. She was the first First Lady of Minnesota to have an office in the Minnesota State Capitol. She advocated for criminal justice reform, gun control, and education reform.[1][2]
Hope Walz
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Hope Walz (born January 2001) is Tim Walz's daughter.[2] Tim and Gwen named her after their emotions after their successful fertility treatment. She grew up in Mankato. After Tim won the 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election and moved to St. Paul, she chose to complete her final year at Mankato West High School, living with the school's principal for the remaining months. She graduated from Montana State University in 2023. As of 2024[update], she works as a social worker in Montana.[1]
Gus Walz
editGus Walz (born October 13, 2006) is Tim Walz's son.[3] He grew up in Mankato and moved to St. Paul when his father became governor, when Gus was twelve.[1] As of 2024[update], he is in twelfth grade at St. Paul Central High School.[1][4]
Gus was diagnosed with non-verbal learning disorder (NVLD), ADHD, and an anxiety disorder as a teenager. In an interview with People magazine, Tim called Gus "brilliant" and his neurodivergence a "secret power".[5][6] Gus and Hope appeared at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, where they tearfully applauded from the audience.[7] Gus shouted "That's my dad!" after being mentioned in his father's acceptance speech.[4] Videos of his cheering went viral, with positive reception from many politicians and social media users. Some supporters of Trump disapproved of the moment. Reporter Ann Coulter tweeted a photo of the event with the caption "Talk about weird..." (referencing to Tim's use of the word "weird" to describe Trump and Vance).[8][9] Coulter's reaction received backlash, with the phrase "He's 17" trending on the platform.[10][11] She deleted the tweet. Wisconsin talk radio host Jay Weber was suspended from WISN-AM after a deleted tweet insulting Gus.[12] Posts about Gus's DNC appearance increased public awareness of NVLD.[13] The increased attention about neurodivergence was termed the "Gus Walz effect".[14]
Gus was at the scene of a shooting on January 18, 2023, at the Jimmy Lee Recreation Center in St. Paul, in which one victim was seriously injured. He was at the center for volleyball practice and helped people who were evacuating, according to his coach. Tim discussed the incident as an example of gun violence in the United States on several occasions, including his vice presidential debate.[15][16]
Pets
editThe family got a black Labrador Retriever dog named Scout in 2019. Tim got the dog for Gus, having promised in 2017 that he would do so if he won the gubernatorial election. The family had an orange cat named Honey, who went missing in 2023. They subsequently adopted a rescue cat named Afton.[1]
Parents and siblings
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f Van Berkel, Jessie (1 October 2024). "Meet the Walzes: Wife Gwen, two kids round out Minnesota's first family". The Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ a b c Gibson, Kelsie (2 October 2024). "Tim Walz's 2 Kids: All About His Daughter Hope and Son Gus". People. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ "Gus Walz votes for first time, to cheers and a high-five from dad". FOX 9. 23 October 2024. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ a b Cooper, Jonathan J. (22 August 2024). "'That's my dad!': Gus Walz tearfully cheers on his father as he accepts Democratic VP nomination". Associated Press. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Chamlee, Virginia (22 August 2024). "Tim Walz and His Wife, Gwen, Open Up About Son's Non-Verbal Learning Disorder: 'His Secret Power' (Exclusive)". People (magazine). Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Swanson, Stephen (30 August 2024). "Tim Walz says he's "proud" of son Gus, who lives with neurodivergence, and his viral DNC moment". WCCO News. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Ables, Kelsey; Javaid, Maham (22 August 2024). "'That's my dad!' Gus Walz charms crowd as father Tim accepts VP nomination". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Collins, Michael; Woodward, Sam (22 August 2024). "Gus Walz broke the internet with his tearful love for his dad. Then the bullying began". USA Today. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Eilbert, Natalie (22 August 2024). "Who is Gus Walz and what is a non-verbal learning disorder?". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Helmore, Edward (24 August 2024). "Backlash erupts over criticism of Tim Walz's emotional son: 'families are everything'". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Mason, Melanie (22 August 2024). "Ann Coulter posted about Tim Walz's son. The backlash was swift". Politico. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Bice, Daniel (5 September 2024). "Radio host Jay Weber to return 2 weeks after mocking neurodivergent son of Tim Walz". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Karnowski, Steve (22 August 2024). "Sudden fame for Tim Walz's son focuses attention on challenges of people with learning disabilities". Associated Press. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Littlefield, Susan-Elizabeth (10 September 2024). ""Gus Walz effect" felt at Minnesota Autism Center, as neurodivergence enters public consciousness". WCCO News. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Karnowski, Steve (2 October 2024). "Coach praises Tim Walz's son for helping protect other kids after shooting". Associated Press. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
- ^ Olson, Rochelle (2 October 2024). "Walz says his 17-year-old son witnessed shooting as he played volleyball at rec center". The Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved 3 November 2024.