Who is Tim Walz? What to know about Kamala Harris' VP pick.

It's Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Vice President Kamala Harris picked Walz as her vice presidential running mate on Tuesday, thrusting the outspoken Midwestern statesman into the national spotlight while adding a key ally to her fast-moving campaign for the presidency.

Walz has decades of political experience inside and outside of Washington, and the Minnesota governor has spent time courting pivotal Midwestern voters. But that doesn't mean most Americans know his name, or his track record. In fact, 71% of Americans said they’ve never heard of Walz or were unsure how to rate him according to a  NPR/PBS/Marist national survey released this week.

Here's what you need to know about Walz, from his stances on the major issues facing the nation to his family and background.

Who is Tim Walz?

Tim Walz, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, was elected governor of Minnesota in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.

Born in Nebraska, Walz joined the Army National Guard after graduating high school in 1981. He worked as a high school teacher and football coach. After retiring from the military in 2005, Walz represented Minnesota’s First Congressional District until he was inaugurated as governor in 2019.

Walz is also the co-chair of the Democratic National Convention’s rules committee, which means he could be involved in nomination processes ahead of August’s convention.

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What politics does Tim Walz support?

In his 2024 State of the State address, Governor Walz emphasized reproductive rights, citing his family’s fertility struggles and the use of IVF. Governor Walz also highlighted the signing of the Protection of Reproductive Options (PRO) Act and praised Minnesota’s high voter turnout and election law reform.

Reproductive rights are not the only hot-button national issue Walz has embraced. He has also publicly spoken against book bans and worked to increase funding for childcare across Minnesota, which now has the nation’s most significant child tax credit. Other legislation passed under Walz includes the legalization of cannabis and the expansion of background checks for purchasing firearms.

What else is Tim Walz known for?

Walz is gaining traction due to his direct and candid nature. Walz may have inadvertently started the Democrats’ viral labeling of conservative opponents, particularly the Republican nominee, Donald Trump, and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, as “weird.”

“These are weird people on the other side,” Walz said in an interview on MSNBC. “They wanna take books away, they wanna be in your exam room, that’s what it comes down to and don’t, you know, get sugar-coating this, these are weird ideas.”

Walz’s criticisms of Vance didn’t stop there, stating in a scathing post on social media that the Republican vice presidential candidate from Ohio doesn’t understand what makes small-town America tick.

“Small towns don’t work because everyone is closed-minded and prejudiced. They work because people mind their own damn business, said Walz. “JD Vance seems to have a real problem minding his.”

Who is Gwen, Tim Walz’s wife?

Gwen Walz was born in Glencoe, Minnesota, and grew up in the western part of the state, according to the official governor’s website.

Alongside her three sisters, Gwen was raised by her parents, Val and Linn, who were educators and small business owners. She has received degrees from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter and Minnesota State University in Mankato. Gwen began her English teaching career in western Nebraska, where she met Tim Walz and married in 1994.

Who are Walz’s children?

The Walz’s have two children together: Hope and Gus. In March, Walz shared his family’s struggle to conceive and the IVF journey that brought them their daughter.

Who are Tim Walz’s parents?

Walz is the son of Darlene Rose and James F. Walz. His father was a public school administrator, and his mother was a community activist. He said his parents taught him the values of hard work and community service.

How old is Tim Walz? A brief biography of Kamala Harris' running mate

Walz is 60 years old, born on April 6, 1964. He was born in West Point, Nebraska, and grew up in Valentine, Nebraska.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is Tim Walz? What to know about Kamala Harris' VP pick.