Tim Walz’s acceptance of the Democratic vice-presidential nomination at the DNC in Chicago also brought attention to his family. During his speech, where he shared his path from being a small-town teacher and football coach with no political background to becoming governor and vice-presidential candidate, he and his wife Gwen opened up about their fertility struggles. Meanwhile, their son Gus captured the audience’s attention with his lively reaction to his father’s address. The event also served as an introduction to the Walz family, who quickly became a highlight of the evening.
The Walz family made a notable appearance at the DNC.
During Tim Walz’s speech at the DNC, his family played a central role. His wife Gwen, daughter Hope, and son Gus sat right in front of the stage, visibly moved by the moment. As Walz spoke, he turned to them and expressed his deep love, saying, “Hope, Gus, and Gwen, you are my entire world and I love you.” The emotional display from his children, who were in tears, highlighted the strong bond within the family.
After the speech, other family members joined Walz onstage. As Neil Young’s “Rockin’ In The Free World” played, the entire family embraced and waved to the audience, sharing a moment of unity and joy with the delegates. The scene captured the close-knit nature of the Walz family, making them a prominent part of the evening’s events.
Walz’s son, Gus, charmed both the audience and viewers at home
At the United Center, the crowd was full of energy, cheering loudly for Tim Walz. However, it was his 17-year-old son, Gus, who really captured everyone’s attention. Sitting in the front row during his dad’s speech, Gus was full of emotion, often standing up to clap and cheer. When Walz expressed his love for his family, Gus, with tears streaming down his face, proudly mouthed, “That’s my dad.” This heartfelt moment quickly went viral, with many on social media praising Gus for his genuine reaction.
Tim and Gwen Walz have openly shared that Gus has a nonverbal learning disorder, ADHD, and an anxiety disorder. In a recent statement, they emphasized that these challenges are not setbacks but rather “his secret power.” They explained how, as Gus grew up, it became clear that he was different from his peers, and they worked hard to support him. They described Gus as brilliant, incredibly observant, and a wonderful son and brother.
Gus’s emotional reaction won over many at the DNC, including Broderick Greer, a convention volunteer who was moved to tears by the Walz family’s heartfelt moment on stage.
Tim Walz and his wife talked openly about their struggles with fertility.
This year, many political candidates are openly discussing their reproductive experiences, hoping to connect with voters, especially as issues like abortion and fertility treatments are being debated in some states. The Washington Post reported that Democrats have focused on this topic after Alabama’s Supreme Court, which is entirely Republican, ruled in February that frozen embryos are considered people. This ruling could make people responsible for destroying embryos, raising concerns about the future of fertility care in Alabama.
The discussion intensified when an old interview with Sen. JD Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, resurfaced. In the interview, Vance called Democrats like Vice President Kamala Harris “childless cat ladies” who are unhappy and want to spread that unhappiness. Many people found these comments insensitive, especially toward women who cannot have children. Although Vance later clarified that his comments were not aimed at people who struggle with having children, he continued to criticize the Democratic Party as “anti-family.”
On Wednesday, Tim Walz and his wife Gwen shared their own experiences with infertility. In a prerecorded video introducing her husband before his speech, Gwen said that Tim loves being a dad and that they had struggled to have children. She explained that fertility treatments helped them have their daughter, which is why they named her Hope.
In his speech, Walz seemed to indirectly address Republican efforts to limit fertility treatments by saying that in Minnesota, people respect each other’s privacy, including when it comes to IVF and fertility treatments. He explained that this issue is personal for him and Gwen because of their difficulties in conceiving children. Describing infertility as “hell,” he talked about their long journey, recalling how they would pray every night for good news and feel deep disappointment when treatments didn’t work.
While Walz has mentioned IVF during his campaign, Gwen clarified this week that she actually received a treatment called intrauterine insemination (IUI), which involves placing sperm into the uterus to increase the chances of fertilization. According to the Cleveland Clinic, IUI is often tried before more complex and expensive fertility treatments.
Meet Gwen, Hope, and Gus Walz — Plus Their Beloved Pets
Gwen Walz, originally from Minnesota, met Tim Walz in Nebraska when they were both high school teachers. The couple got married in June 1994 and relocated to Minnesota two years later. They both taught at Mankato West High School, and Gwen later became an administrator with Mankato Area Public Schools until 2019, when Tim became governor. As Minnesota’s first lady, Gwen was an advocate for education and prison reform, playing a significant role in shaping the position after it had been vacant for years.
Their daughter, Hope Walz, graduated from Montana State University in 2023. Recently, Tim Walz shared that Hope is working as a ski instructor at Big Sky and also serves as a social worker at a homeless shelter in Bozeman.
Their son, Gus Walz, is currently a senior at Saint Paul Central High School, as reported by the Minnesota Star Tribune.
The Walz family also includes a couple of furry friends—a rescue cat named Honey and a black Lab mix named Scout. Tim and Gwen shared that they adopted Scout after promising Gus they would get a puppy if Tim won the governorship. In a Vogue questionnaire, the family mentioned that if they could tell Scout one thing, it would be that “he rescued us as much as we rescued him.”