Tim Walz is a proud father of two youngsters, together with his son Gus.
The Minnesota governor and his spouse, Gwen Walz, welcomed their elder baby, Hope, in January 2001. 5 years later, they expanded their household with the delivery of Gus in October 2006.
Since Vice President Kamala Harris picked Tim as her operating mate within the 2024 presidential election, his household has been by his aspect, supporting him at rallies and occasions just like the Democratic Nationwide Conference.
Throughout Tim’s speech on the DNC on Aug. 21, Gus could possibly be seen cheering for his father within the stands, even getting emotional because the governor accepted the vice presidential nomination.
“Hope, Gus, and Gwen you might be my complete world, and I really like you,” Tim stated in his speech.
As an adolescent, Gus was recognized with a non-verbal studying dysfunction, ADHD and anxiousness — all of which Tim and Gwen known as his “secret energy” in an unique August 2024 assertion to PEOPLE.
“We love our Gus,” Tim and Gwen informed PEOPLE. “We’re pleased with the person he’s rising into, and we’re so excited to have him with us on this journey.”
From how he is supported his father on his marketing campaign journey to this point to what makes Tim most pleased with Gus, this is all the things to find out about Tim Walz’s son, Gus.
He was born in October 2006
Gwen and Tim welcomed Gus on Oct. 13, 2006, 5 years after their daughter, Hope. All through his political journey, Tim has been open about his and Gwen’s struggles with infertility.
Throughout his speech on the DNC, Tim mirrored on the “absolute agony” of the seven years of fertility therapies for him and Gwen to conceive Hope.
“In the event you’ve by no means skilled the hell that’s infertility, I can assure you, you understand someone who has,” Tim stated.
Tim promised Gus he would get him a canine if he received the 2018 gubernatorial election
Earlier than Tim turned governor of Minnesota, he made Gus an off-handed promise that if he received the race, they might get a canine.
“I believe it was March of ’17, and Gus stated he’d all the time wished a canine,” Tim told The Minnesota Star Tribune in September 2019. “And I stated, ‘Effectively, Gus, if we win that governor’s race, we’ll get a canine.’ ”
The next yr, Tim did win the election — and Gus reminded his father of their deal. Tim joked to the outlet that Gus by no means introduced up the canine after their preliminary dialog, but it surely was the very first thing he stated after he discovered of his father’s win.
“It got here on TV that they known as the race and Gus instantly screamed, ‘Oh, now I get a pet!’ ” Tim stated.
In September 2019, the Walz household adopted their Labrador combine, who Gus named Scout.
“Everyone’s thrilled. Effectively, I should not say all people,” the governor stated. “Gus’ sister Hope stated it took two days to exchange her — she went to college and we changed her with a pet.”
Gus was recognized with a studying dysfunction as an adolescent
When Gus was a baby, Tim and Gwen observed his distinctive character and the way he differed from his friends.
“When our youngest Gus was rising up, it turned more and more clear that he was totally different from his classmates,” the couple informed PEOPLE. “Gus most well-liked video video games and spending extra time by himself.”
When he was an adolescent, Gus was recognized with a non-verbal studying dysfunction in addition to anxiousness and ADHD. On this case, “non-verbal” just isn’t the identical as “non-speaking.”
Tim and Gwen shared that it took time for the household to greatest work out how you can assist Gus and set him up for achievement, however they added that over time, they realized his diagnoses weren’t a hindrance to his progress.
“It took time, however what turned so instantly clear to us was that Gus’ situation just isn’t a setback — it’s his secret energy,” they stated.
The couple famous that Gus “is sensible, hyper-aware of particulars that many people cross by, and above all else, he’s a wonderful son and brother to his sibling.”
He obtained his driver’s license when he turned 17
Two weeks after his seventeenth birthday in October 2023, Gus handed a milestone: he earned his driver’s license. Tim commemorated the particular second on Instagram alongside a photograph of him within the passenger seat as Gus drove.
“My son Gus simply handed his (what do you name it? A drivers license examination?). Proud dad second,” he wrote within the caption.
Gus is a senior in highschool
Gus was solely 12 when his father turned governor however the now-17-year-old is in the identical place his sister was in as his dad is operating to turn into vp: beginning his senior yr of highschool.
Whereas Hope graduated from Mankato West Excessive Faculty — within the city the place the Walzes lived earlier than Tim turned governor — Gus attends college in St. Paul.
He was rooting for his dad on the DNC
On Aug. 21, Tim took the stage on the DNC to offer a speech about his and Harris’ platform. In it, he spoke of his household and his dedication to them.
When the digicam panned to Gus within the crowd, he could possibly be seen getting emotional, crying and yelling “That is my dad!” as he stood as much as give him a standing ovation.
Tim then beckoned his household to affix him on stage, the place Gus enveloped him in an enormous hug and took a bow alongside his sister and mom.