Rural Democrat Tim Walz Declares Run For Minnesota Governor

Rep. Tim Walz, a Democrat from Minnesota's first congressional district, announced Monday that he is running for Minnesota governor.

Walz's district spans the southern part of Minnesota – from the South Dakota border in the west to the Wisconsin border in the east. It covers large, rural counties including Rice, Faribault, Le Sueur, Blue Earth, and Dodge.

Walz is currently serving his sixth term representing Minnesota’s First Congressional District. He has was first elected to the seat in 2006, after he defeated Republican Gil Gutknecht.

In an interview Monday morning, Walz told the Post Bulletin he would be joining the crowded 2018 governor race:

The Mankato Democrat said he believes he has shown during his years in Congress he can work across the aisle to get things done.

"I think now more than ever people are just wanting (government) to work. They are not looking for the partisanship. They are not looking for me to have all the answers, but they are certainly looking for me to bring people together to find those solutions that we all know are there," he said.

The congressman and his family are headed to St. Paul today to officially file the paperwork for his candidacy.

Walz told the newspaper that he believes the needs of residents in rural areas and metro areas are not at odds with each other, and he will run a campaign on bringing Minnesotans together.

Tim Walz's Background

Walz is the ranking member on Veterans' Affairs and serves on the Agriculture Committee. He also is one of nine House Members to serve on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

Walz has leadership posts with the National Guard and Reserve Caucus and the Congressional Veterans Jobs Caucus.

Tim Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska.

Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard at the young age of 17, and retired 24 years later as Command Sergeant Major. Before retiring, Walz served overseas with his battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Walz's office states he is the highest ranking enlisted soldier ever to serve in Congress.

In 1989, Walz earned a B.S. in social science education from Chadron State College in Nebraska.

Walz spent 1989-1990 teaching high school in China as a part of the first government sanctioned groups of American educators to teach in China through a program at Harvard University.

When he returned from China, Walz began teaching high school in Nebraska.

While in Nebraska, Walz met his wife Gwen Whipple.

Married in 1994, Tim and Gwen Walz moved back to Gwen’s native southern Minnesota where both began teaching and coaching at Mankato West High School.

Image via Office of Congressman Tim Walz