We Minnesotans Love Gov. Tim Walz and America Will Love Him Too As the Next Vice President
- Never too busy to show up at the annual IndiaFest to celebrate or at any other cultural fair, he is a familiar figure around town with his lovely wife Gwen.
I’m a proud Minnesotan today as our beloved “coach” and Governor Tim Walz is now the Democratic Party nominee for Vice President. I am a proud Indian American woman as the first-ever immigrant woman of color with Indian and Jamaican heritage is likely/hopefully to be the 47th President of the United States of America. Watching the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and seeing the electrifying energy in the arena and indeed the entire Democratic party is palpable.
We all saw the amazing speech Walz gave on Day 3 of the DNC as he accepted his nomination. To us Minnesotans it came as no surprise. We have known him and loved him for his son-of-the-soil persona, and genial and “goofy” personality. We saw him as the U.S. House of Representatives from the very, very red 1st congressional district and win, up until 2019 when he became our Governor. The world saw what we know – a father to two amazing kids, a school teacher from Mankato, a football coach, a U.S. Army veteran, and a politician with a heart. So, he needs no introduction.
Born on April 6, 1964, in the small town of West Point, Nebraska, Walz’s upbringing was deeply rooted in community values and hard work. Like him, his father too was a school teacher and an army veteran, and his mother a homemaker, who instilled in him the importance of service and education. Walz has mentioned before how heavy hospital bills nearly sank his parents’. Some of his actions taken as Governor come straight out of those experiences — tax reforms, free school meals, and universal gun background checks.
We saw his strength and leadership during the pandemic days and during and after the horrific murder of George Floyd. And we love him. Well, let’s be honest here, not by all. But, his smiling, happy bi-speckled face with a mischievous grin – no one can deny!
Walz joined the Army National Guard shortly after his 17th birthday, serving for 24 years and included a deployment to Afghanistan. After his military service, Walz transitioned to a career in education. He taught social studies and coached football at Mankato West High School in Minnesota. Hearing stories from his former students who credit him for mentoring, their choices in careers, and their world view — all inspired by him.
I’ll be the first to admit, that while we love our Governor, his astronomical rise on the political spectrum caught all Minnesotans by surprise. No one gave him a higher chance over the suave Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and Senator and former astronaut Mark Kelly, among others. And when he was picked to run besides Kamala Hariss, Boy! Did the people love him as we Minnesotans do?
Never too busy to show up at the annual IndiaFest to celebrate or at any other cultural fair, Walz is a familiar figure around town with his lovely wife Gwen, and their two children.
America will love Tim Walz, as we Minnesotans do, as he now joins other respected names on the national arena from Minnesota – Walter Mondale, Hubert Humphry, Eugene McCarthy, the late and the great Paul Wellstone from the yesteryears, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Dean Phillips.
(Top photo: Tim Walz / Facebook)
Kuhu Singh is a writer with an interest in social justice, cultural and political matters, here in the U.S., in India, and beyond.