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Timothy James Walz, Minnesota Governor

Profile

Timothy James Walz (born April 6, 1964) is an American politician and retired U.S. Army National Guard non-commissioned officer. He is serving as the 41st and current governor of Minnesota and is a member of the Democratic Party.

Walz served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2006 to 2018. He was the Democratic nominee for governor in the 2018 gubernatorial election, defeating Republican candidate Jeff Johnson by a margin of 1.5%. He was reelected in 2022, defeating Republican candidate Scott Jensen by a margin of 7.5%.

Accomplishments

As governor, Walz has signed into law several notable pieces of legislation, including:

• A bill to legalize recreational marijuana
• A bill to raise the minimum wage
• A bill to create a paid family and medical leave program
• A bill to invest in clean energy
• A bill to expand access to healthcare

Walz has also taken executive action to address the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and gun violence.

Personal life

Walz is married to Gwen Walz and they have two children. He is a graduate of Concordia University and the University of St. Thomas. Walz is a member of the Minnesota National Guard and has served overseas in Iraq.