Who is Tim Walz?

Last night, at the Democratic National Convention, Tim Walz accepted his party’s nomination as Vice President Kamala Harris’ Vice-Presidential running mate.

Tim Walz is the current Governor of Minnesota and a former U.S. congressman with a distinguished record on public sector employee issues, including labor rights, pay, and benefits. 

As a congressman, Tim Walz was a strong advocate for federal employees.  During his time in the U.S. House of Representatives (2007-2019), he consistently voted for measures that aimed to improve federal employee pay and benefits and supported legislation that protected labor rights and ensured fair treatment for federal workers. His efforts earned him a 98 percent lifetime score with NTEU and the endorsement and high praise from other federal employee unions, including AFGE.

As Governor of Minnesota, Walz has continued his fight for public sector employees. His administration has enacted several pro-worker laws and policies, including laws expanding collective bargaining rights in the public sector, banning non-compete clauses and providing Minnesotans with paid family and medical leave. 

Governor Walz is a former union member with a personal commitment to labor rights. He credits his background as a teacher, coach, and a veteran of the Army National Guard for his deep understanding of the challenges faced by public employees and dedication to advocating for workers.

Walz’s commitment to labor rights is evident in his public statements, including  his 2024 State of the State address, where he praised state employees for their dedication and hard work and proudly stated that “Minnesota always has been and always will be a labor state.” And more recently, he underscored his belief in the importance of unions in building and maintaining a robust nation when he told AFSCME’s national convention “we know that when unions are strong, America is strong.”

This message is part of a continuing NTEU series on the election issues that will directly impact federal employees and their workplace. NTEU fights to ensure that all federal employees are treated with dignity and respect and asks that you keep your responses professional and respectful.