The Democratic National Convention kicked off in Chicago on Monday with the Illinois delegation breakfast, which featured a surprise speaker: Gwen Walz, the wife of Minnesota governor and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz.
Speaking to the delegates, lawmakers, and journalists in the room, Gwen Walz shared that she and her husband met while teaching at the same school—and that she and her family love to visit Chicago for their New Year’s Eve celebrations, according to POLITICO. She went on to express support for Vice President Kamala Harris, who announced earlier this month that she chose Tim Walz as her running mate for the 2024 presidential election.
“I can’t think of a better team than Kamala and Tim,” Gwen said at the breakfast. “They want to give everyone a chance at the American Dream. And isn’t that what we all want?”
Tim Walz introduced his wife as he joined the presidential ticket: “I can’t wait for all of you and America to get to know my incredible wife, Gwen, a 29-year public school educator,” he said at a rally in Philadelphia earlier this month. “Don’t ever underestimate teachers.”
Here’s what to know about Gwen Walz.
She was a teacher
Gwen Walz, 58, was born in Glencoe, Minn. Her parents were both teachers and small business owners, and she has three younger sisters. She earned degrees from Gustavus Adolphus College and Minnesota State University before moving to Nebraska, where she followed in her parents’ footsteps and began teaching.
While teaching high school English there, she met Tim Walz, who was a teacher at the same school. They went to a movie for their first date, and Gwen later told The Minnesota Star Tribune that she turned down a kiss from him, prompting her now-husband to respond: “That’s fine, but you should know I’m going to marry you.” They got married in 1994.
