Timothy “Tim” Walz

Tim Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska, on April 6, 1964. Walz has a diverse background that spans education, sports, military service, and politics.

He graduated from Butte High School in 1982. He subsequently moved to Texas and studied at the University of Houston while enlisted in the Texas Army National Guard. In 1987, Walz returned to Nebraska and continued his education at Chadron State College, where he earned a bachelor of science in social science education in 1989.

Before entering politics, he was a high school geography teacher and football coach at Mankato West High School in Minnesota, where he led the team to a state championship.

In 2001, Walz received a master’s degree focused on Holocaust and genocide education at Minnesota State University. In his thesis, “Improving Human Rights and Genocide Studies in the American High School Classroom,” he wrote, “Schools are teaching about the Jewish Holocaust, but the way it is traditionally being taught is not leading to increased knowledge of the causes of genocide in all parts of the world.” He argued that the Holocaust was not unique and should be taught “in the greater context of human rights abuses.”

Later, as governor, Walz signed a law requiring the state’s middle and high schools to teach about the Holocaust and encouraged them to teach about other genocides. “We need to do better on Holocaust education. We need to do better on ethnic studies,” he said at an event. “And I tell you this as a teacher and as governor, too, we don’t need test scores or anything to tell us that we’re failing.”

Walz served in the Army National Guard for 24 years, retiring with the rank of command sergeant major. His military background and his education career helped him win a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, where he represented Minnesota’s 1st congressional district from 2007 to 2019. During his time in Congress, Walz was known for his bipartisan approach and commitment to veterans’ issues.

In 2018, Walz was elected Governor of Minnesota. His administration has been involved in legislative work related to healthcare, education, and social justice. Walz has supported measures to expand access to healthcare, improve public education, and promote economic equality.

On August 6, 2024, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris announced that Walz was her choice for vice president. The pick excited Democrats and appeared to unite the party, though some controversy accompanied the choice. Many Democrats wanted Harris to choose Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. Some accused Harris of caving into anti-Semites who opposed Shapiro because he is Jewish; others suggested she acted to appease progressives who objected to Shapiro’s support for Israel. Donald Trump called the choice “very insulting to Jewish people.”

Ultimately, she felt more comfortable with Walz, who was seen as less ambitious and less likely to overshadow Harris, unlike Shapiro. As a small-town progressive with a folksy Midwestern temperament, Walz was viewed as an asset to the campaign.

Critics of President Biden’s “ironclad” support for Israel hope she will adopt a less sympathetic policy. One of Israel’s most vocal antagonists was particularly happy with Walz’s choice. “What we have is somebody who will do no harm, who is not going to step on the fact that the vice president is trying to turn a corner,” James Zogby told The Intercept. “This is not going to be the policy of Joe Biden — she’s made that clear in a number of ways, even though she can’t break from her boss. But we have every indication that she is going to turn a corner, and [Walz] does not impede that corner turn — Shapiro on the other hand would have become an issue.”

Haaretz U.S. correspondent Ben Samuels disagreed with that perspective, noting that “Walz is also one of a handful of Democrats to have years-long support from both [pro-Israel groups] AIPAC and J Street” and “has an Israel record indistinguishable from Shapiro’s.”

Democratic Majority for Israel Chair Mark Mellman called Walz a “proud pro-Israel Democrat with a strong record of supporting the U.S.-Israel relationship.”

Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas (JCRC), said, “Gov. Walz has a long record of friendship with both his Jewish constituents and the state of Israel.”

Walz spoke at the annual AIPAC policy conference in 2010 when Israel was at odds with the Obama administration. “Especially now when there is a little tension in the relationship, it’s important to hear what people are thinking,” he said. “Israel is our truest and closest ally in the region, with a commitment to values of personal freedoms and liberties, surrounded by a pretty tough neighborhood.”

As a member of Congress, he voted with the pro-Israel majority, including on a resolution condemning the UN resolution declaring Israeli settlements illegal. This was despite his view that settlements are an obstacle to peace.

In a 2019 proclamation, Walz acknowledged anti-Semitism as a long-standing form of hatred and marked the first anniversary of the Tree of Life Synagogue attack. “We are committed to confronting hate and bias crimes and recognize that anti-Semitism represents a unique and millennia-old enduring hatred of Jewish people,” he said.

Walz has advocated for Holocaust education and ethnic studies. At an event hosted by Minnesota’s Jewish Community Relations Council, he called for strengthening these areas in the state’s educational system. He also appointed the first Jewish member to the Minnesota Court of Appeals in 40 years. 

Walz has consistently supported Israel throughout his career. He has condemned attacks against Israel and managed the complex dynamics of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian sentiments within the state Democratic Party. For example, he praised Democrats who voted uncommitted in the state primary. This was a movement by critics of Biden’s support for Israel. 

Walz faced criticism for endorsing Ilhan Omar (D-MN), whose antagonism toward Israel is regarded by many Jews as anti-Semitic. He also supported the Iran Nuclear Agreement, which Israel vehemently opposed.

Walz condemned Hamas’s October 7, 2023, massacre of Israelis. “If you did not find moral clarity on Saturday morning, and you find yourself waiting to think about what you needed to say, you need to reevaluate where you’re at […] What was evident on Saturday morning was the absolute lack of humanity, the terrorism and the barbarism. That’s not a geopolitical discussion. That’s murder.”

He ordered flags in Minnesota to be flown at half-mast and said at a solidarity rally, “Here in the state of Minnesota, we stand firmly with the state of Israel and the righteousness of the cause.”

Walz also criticized those who did not condemn the violence. He also spoke about the hostility toward Jewish students during pro-Palestinian campus protests. “We saw your children feeling like they couldn’t be on [college] campuses in Minnesota. And that not only breaks my heart, it is wrong.” He also said, “I think when Jewish students are telling us they feel unsafe in that, we need to believe them, and I do believe them....Creating a space where political dissent or political rallying can happen is one thing. Intimidation is another.”

According to Axios, Walz supports a two-state solution and Israel’s right to defend itself but also referred to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as “intolerable” and praised the civic engagement of pro-Palestinian activists. He supports sending humanitarian aid to conflict zones and administration efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza. He posted on social media, “The vast majority of Palestinians are not Hamas, and Hamas does not represent the Palestinian people. We cannot let terrorists like Hamas win.” Walz told Minnesota Public Radio, “You can hold competing things: That Israel has the right to defend itself, and the atrocities of October 7 are unacceptable, but Palestinian civilians being caught in this… has got to end.”

Walz has also said the “ability of Jewish people to self-determine themselves is foundational” and “the failure to recognize the state of Israel is taking away that self-determination. So it is anti-Semitic.”

Walz and his wife, Gwen, married on June 4, 1994. They have two children.

Sources: “Tim Walz,” Wikipedia.
@GovTimWalz, (October 20, 2023).
Meredith Lee Hill, Elena Schneider, “‘He’s got the Midwest grit, the Midwest sensibility’: Why Tim Walz is suddenly in the hunt for VP,” Politico, (July 29, 2024). 
Howard Wolfson, “Tim Walz Could Take It to the House,” New York Times, (August 6, 2024). 
Emily Jacobs, “Walz began his political career as a moderate, but as governor he’s moved to the left,” Jewish Insider, (August 6, 2024). 
“He Stands Out in a ‘Sea of Elites and Strivers’: Our Writers on What Tim Walz Brings to the Ticket,” New York Times, (August 6, 2024). 
Emily Tamkin, “Why Jewish Americans should be thrilled to vote for Tim Walz,” Forward, (August 6, 2024).
Marta Biino, “Where Democratic VP pick Tim Walz stands on China, Israel, and Ukraine,” Semafor, (August 6, 2024).
Jonah Valdez, “What Tim Walz Could Mean for Kamala Harris’s Stance on Gaza and Israel,” The Intercept, (August 6, 2024).
Jacob Kornbluh, “What Tim Walz VP pick means for American Jews and Israel,” Forward, (August 6, 2024).
“JCRC applauds Gov. Tim Walz’ pro-Israel record, stalwart friendship with Jewish community,” Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, (August 6, 2024).
Jackie Hajdenberg, “Minnesota’s Jews celebrate as their ‘mensch’ Gov. Tim Walz enters the national spotlight,” JTA, (August 7, 2024).
Melissa Cruz, “What is Tim Walz’s position on Israel? Where Kamala Harris’ VP stands on war in Gaza,” USA Today, (August 7, 2024).
Kyle Stokes, “Where Tim Walz stands on Gaza and the Israel-Hamas war,” Axios, (August 7, 2024).
Irie Sentner and Liz Crampton, “Often split over Israel, Dems rally around Walz as GOP slams Shapiro snub as antisemitic,” Politico, (August 7, 2024).
Michael Lee, “Where does Tim Walz stand on Israel?” Fox News, (August 8, 2024).
Eitan Nechin, “For Harris, Tim Walz’s Silence on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Is an Asset,” Haaretz, (August 8, 2024).
Andrew Lapin, “Tim Walz wrote a master’s thesis on Holocaust education, just as his own school’s approach drew criticism,” JTA, (August 8, 2024).

Photo: Office of Governor Tim Walz & Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan via Wikimedia Commons.