Tim Walz is a proud father of two youngsters—a daughter and a son.
The governor of Minnesota, who was chosen as Kamala Harris’ vice presidential candidate, married his spouse, Gwen Walz, in 1994 earlier than welcoming their youngsters in 2001 and 2006. Walz has been open about his household in interviews, significantly recounting his and Gwen’s seven-year IVF journey earlier than they had been in a position to have youngsters. This expertise has influenced his insurance policies as governor. Throughout the vice presidential debate, Walz acknowledged, “Infertility remedies are why I’ve a baby,” whereas discussing reproductive rights.
Walz sometimes shares photographs and tributes to his youngsters on social media and continuously discusses his household throughout campaigns together with his working mate. He has additionally appeared in a number of viral movies together with his daughter.
Right here’s every part you’ll want to learn about Hope and Gus.
Hope Walz, 23
Tim and Gwen’s first youngster, daughter Hope, was born on January 9, 2001.
In an interview with the Star Tribune, Tim defined that they selected the identify “Hope” to mirror their journey by way of IVF. After seven years of attempting to conceive, he recalled the joyous second when Gwen revealed she was pregnant.
“I mentioned, ‘Not once more,’” Tim remembered. “She mentioned, ‘No, I’m pregnant.’ It’s not by likelihood that we named our daughter Hope.” In his acceptance speech on the Democratic Nationwide Conference, Tim paid tribute to his household, stating, “It took Gwen and me years, however we had entry to fertility remedies. When our daughter was born, we named her Hope. Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you might be my complete world, and I really like you.”
The energetic father usually shares moments together with his firstborn on social media. He celebrated Hope on Nationwide Daughter’s Day in 2023 with a heartfelt Instagram put up: “I’ve one of the best daughter a dad might presumably ask for. Glad Nationwide Daughter’s Day.”
He additionally marked his daughter’s twenty third birthday earlier this yr by sharing a photograph on Instagram of Hope posing in entrance of ski slopes, writing, “Glad Birthday, Hope! 23 runs for 23 years.”
Gus Walz, 17
Tim and Gwen’s second youngster, son Gus, was born on October 13, 2006.
Gus is presently a highschool scholar dwelling together with his dad and mom in St. Paul, the state capital of Minnesota. He has been identified with Nonverbal Studying Dysfunction (NVLD), Consideration Deficit Hyperactivity Dysfunction (ADHD), and an nervousness dysfunction—a subject the Walzes have been open about since sharing their journey with PEOPLE in August.
Gus gained consideration for his heartfelt help through the Democratic Nationwide Conference, the place he was seen cheering on his dad with tears streaming down his face.
Over time, the Walz household has come to grasp that Gus’s NVLD, ADHD, and nervousness dysfunction form his distinctive manner of interacting with the world. Tim and Gwen emphasize that they don’t view these circumstances as deficits however relatively as a part of what makes Gus distinctive—affectionately referring to them as his “secret energy.”
In response to the Cleveland Clinic, nonverbal studying issues have an effect on how youngsters soak up and make the most of data, however they are often managed with interventions that assist these affected study in numerous methods. “Non-verbal” on this context doesn’t imply “non-speaking.”
People with NVLD usually excel in verbal abilities, similar to vocabulary and studying, however might wrestle with nonverbal cues, visual-spatial processing, motor abilities, and social interactions.
“When our youngest, Gus, was rising up, it grew to become more and more clear that he was totally different from his classmates,” the couple shared. “Gus most popular video video games and spent extra time by himself.”
“Like so many American households, it took us time to determine how to make sure we did every part potential to set Gus up for achievement as he grew,” they added.
Tim’s deal with insurance policies like gun legal guidelines has additionally been influenced by his youngsters, significantly after Gus witnessed a taking pictures in St. Paul in January 2023. Throughout the vice presidential debate, he briefly recounted this expertise whereas advocating for stricter gun legal guidelines, noting that his son was taking part in volleyball when a 16-year-old was shot exterior the Jimmy Lee Recreation Heart.
Pets
Again in 2019, Minnesota welcomed a brand new first canine, a rescue Labrador combine named Scout, because of Gus.
“I’m excited to announce that Minnesota has a brand new First Canine! And extra importantly, I fulfilled my dedication to get my son a canine if I used to be elected Governor,” Tim wrote in an Instagram put up on September 5, 2019.
Extra just lately, in December 2023, the Walz household added one other four-legged member—a rescue cat named Honey, who’s orange and white.
“Say hiya to Honey! The most recent member of the Walz household,” Tim wrote on X on December 20, 2023. “She’s a rescue pet and already has a couple of favourite spots: below the tree and proper on prime of no matter I’m attempting to learn.”
