Who is Gwen Walz? Wife of Democratic VP pick Tim Walz met him when they were both teachers in Nebraska

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA: Democratic vice presidential candidate vice presidential candidate and Minnesota governor Tim Walz has been married to Gwen Walz, whom he met as an educator before entering politics, for more than three decades, People reported.

Tim and Gwen were both teachers in Alliance, Nebraska when they got together in 1994. Two years later, they moved to Minnesota, Gwen's home state, where they raised their children, Hope and Gus.

Throughout their time together, Gwen has been supportive of Tim's career choices, even as he transitioned from an educator to a full-time politician. After winning the governor's seat in Minnesota for the first time in 2018, the latter acknowledged the support, posting on Facebook, "‪To my wife Gwen – Minnesota’s next First Lady - how can I ever thank you enough? I’m grateful to you for keeping it all together for us and walking with me on this journey. I love you.‬"

With Tim being announced as Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate in 2024, here is everything to know about the potential 49th Second Lady of the United States.

Gwen Walz's career as a lifelong educator

Gwen was born in Glencoe, Minnesota, and grew up with three sisters. She graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Minnesota in Mankato, following which she settled in Nebraska where she met her husband Tim.

Both Gwen and Tim were teachers, her teaching high school English through much of her career while he taught social studies. Two years after getting hitched, the couple moved back to Mankato, and only shifted to Saint Paul after Tim won the gubernatorial election for the first time in 2018.

According to her bio, Gwen served as an administrator and coordinator working to “eliminate the achievement gap” in the education system in the Mankato school district. She has also been passionate about prison reform and bringing educational programs to incarcerated people.

Gwen advocated for granting more pardons in Minnesota, saying 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 restore people to our community. And we need each and every person in this state in our community. Rights restored, active, engaged.”

Tim Walz called his life with Gwen a 'blessing'

While the couple met as teachers in Alliance, Nebraska, it was Gwen's sister who convinced her to go out with Tim on a date. After moving back to Minnesota, while Gwen continued her teaching career, Tim initially took up the role of a geography teacher and a football coach. They started the Educational Travel Adventures program, which coordinated summer trips to China for their high school students.

The couple got married on June 4, 1994, surrounded by their family and friends. The Governor commemorated a milestone in their relationship as he posted on Facebook in June 2019, "Happy 25th anniversary to my beautiful wife, Gwen! It’s been a blessing to walk with you each and every day through this journey called life."

Gwen and Tim are happily married, and share two children together, Hope, born in January 2001, and Gus, born in October 2006. According to People, The couple had to overcome hardships to become parents, undergoing fertility treatments and IVF. As a progressive, Tim has championed the causes of reproductive freedom and access to IVF facilities.

Gwen also supported Tim through his career in politics. She stood by him when he signed his first bill as Governor of Minnesota in 2019, telling PBS 12 about the incident, "I could tell when he left in the morning that he was really hopeful that I would get there."