Nearly a decade before his rise to national prominence, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, now a vice presidential candidate, faced a significant crossroads in his life due to a drunk-driving incident on a Nebraska highway.
A recently obtained mugshot from Newsweek shows a 31-year-old Walz, then a high school teacher and Army National Guard member, during his 1995 booking in Chadron, Nebraska. In the photo, Walz is seen wearing glasses and a hat.
At the time, Walz was working in Alliance, Nebraska, when he was pulled over for driving 96 mph in a 55 mph zone. According to the police report from the Dawes County Sheriff’s Office, officers detected a strong odor of alcohol, and Walz failed a field sobriety test, registering a blood alcohol level of 0.128—well above the legal limit.
Charged initially with DUI and speeding, Walz struck a plea deal to have the charges reduced to reckless driving. During hearings, his attorneys noted that Walz had offered to resign from his teaching position and coaching role at Alliance High School following his arrest.
Walz ultimately pleaded guilty to the reduced charge, resulting in a $200 fine, court costs, and a 90-day license suspension. The DUI charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement.
Over the years, Walz has been open about the incident, describing it as a pivotal moment in his life. “I learned my lesson, and it made me a better person and a better leader,” Walz said during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign. “It was a serious mistake, but it taught me valuable lessons about responsibility and consequences.”
Walz has cited the arrest as the turning point that led him to quit drinking, a commitment he has maintained for nearly three decades. He now prefers Diet Mountain Dew, the same beverage favored by his Republican opponent, Ohio Senator JD Vance.
This week, Kamala Harris selected Walz as her running mate, aiming to strengthen her position against former President Donald Trump. Walz was notably the first Democrat to publicly describe Trump and Vance as “weird,” a characterization that has been embraced by the Democratic campaign.
Currently in his second term as governor, the 60-year-old Walz is recognized for his progressive policies and his appeal to rural voters in traditionally conservative areas. His diverse background, which includes experience on Capitol Hill, as a public-school teacher, and as a state high school championship football coach, is seen as a strategic asset for Harris’s campaign. His selection suggests Harris is targeting both Rust Belt and Sun Belt states that were challenging for Joe Biden during his campaign.
