In 2006, during his first campaign for Congress, Tim Walz was scheduled to speak at a fund-raising dinner in his hometown, Mankato, Minn. At the time, he was a political unknown in a tightly contested race against a six-term incumbent.
The dinner was a chance to stump in front of his local district of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and to bolster his campaign coffers.
There was only one problem: Mr. Walz had laryngitis.
As guests loaded up plates with food, they were surprised to see someone else take the stage: Gwen Walz, Mr. Walz’s wife.
She was used to speaking in front of a crowd: Like her husband, Ms. Walz had been a public-school teacher for more than a decade.
Persons:
Tim Walz, Walz, Gwen Walz, Mr, Walz’s, ”, John Klaber
Organizations:
Congress, Minnesota Democratic, Farmer, Labor Party, North Mankato
Locations:
Mankato, Minn, North