How Tim Walz compares with JD Vance and his path to become Kamala Harris' running mate

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s path to becoming Democrat Kamala Harris’ 2024 running mate began in small towns in Nebraska, where Walz was born, raised and taught school.

Walz – who recently drew national attention for using the term “ weird ” to describe the Republican Party – was a high school teacher, football coach and National Guard member before winning election to Congress in 2006.

In the coming weeks. Walz’s political career , military service , his policies and his trajectory from Nebraska to Minnesota to Washington will be reviewed, dissected and analyzed.

It starts with a comparison between Walz and Ohio Sen. JD Vance , chosen by former President Donald Trump as his running mate.

How do Walz, Vance compare?

Walz's path from Nebraska to Washington

1964: Walz is born in West Point, Nebraska , a town of about 3,500 northwest of Omaha. His family later moves 240 miles to Valentine, Nebraska , south of the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

1981: Joins Nebraska Army National Guard at age 17 while attending Butte High School in Butte, Nebraska . He'll specialize in heavy artillery and will receive proficiency ribbons in sharpshooting and hand grenades.

1982: Graduates from Butte High School.

1989: Graduates with teaching degree in social science education from Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska.

1989-1990: Teaches high school classes in China in a program sponsored by Harvard University. Also teaches classes at the Pine Ridge, South Dakota, Indian reservation.

1990-1996: Teaches classes at Alliance High School in Alliance, Nebraska .

1994: Marries Gwen Whipple; they met in Nebraska.

1996-2004: Moves to Mankato, Minnesota . He teaches classes and coaches football at Mankato West High School. The team wins its first state championship in 1999.

1996-2005: Transfers to Minnesota National Guard.

2001: Earns a master of science degree in educational leadership from what is now Minnesota State University, Mankato , in Mankato, Minnesota.

2005: After 24 years of service , including duty in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, he retires from the National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 125th Field Artillery. As command sergeant major , he becomes the highest-ranking enlisted National Guard soldier to serve in Congress.

2006: Wins election to Minnesota’s 1st Congressional District in U.S. House of Representatives. He wins reelection in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014  and 2016.

2018: Elected 41 ^st governor of Minnesota and is reelected in 2022.

2024: Chosen as Kamala Harris’ running mate.

Contributing: Sam Woodward, David Jackson, Sudiksha Kochi, Joey Garrison, Rachel Barber, Phillip M. Bailey, Savannah Kuchar, Rebecca Morin, George Fabe Russell and Emily DeLetter

Source: USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; U.S. Army; walzflanagan.org; mn.gov; Chadron State College

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How Tim Walz compares with JD Vance and his path to become Kamala Harris' running mate