Pictured: Tim Walz's Mugshot From 1995 DUI Arrest

Nearly a decade before his political ascent, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, then a high school teacher and now a vice presidential candidate, nearly abandoned his teaching career after a drunk-driving incident on a Nebraska highway.

A mugshot of Walz after his 1995 arrest in Chadron, Neb., obtained by Newsweek, captures the 31-year-old teacher and Army National Guard member wearing glasses and a hat during his booking.

Walz was working in Alliance, Neb. when he was pulled over for driving 96 mph in a 55 mph zone, according to the original police report filed by the Dawes County Sheriff's Office. Arresting officers noted a strong odor of alcohol, and Walz failed a field sobriety test with a blood alcohol level of 0.128, well above the legal limit.

Initially charged with DUI and speeding, Walz negotiated a plea deal, reducing the charges to reckless driving. His attorneys noted during hearings that Walz had offered to resign from his teaching position at Alliance High School, including his coaching role, following the arrest.

Ultimately, Walz pleaded guilty to the reduced charge, resulting in a $200 fine and court costs. The DUI charge was dropped as part of the plea agreement, and Walz faced a 90-day license suspension.

The Democratic vice-presidential candidate has been transparent about the incident over the years, using 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 cites the arrest as the catalyst for his decision to quit drinking, a commitment he has maintained for nearly three decades. Now, he prefers Diet Mountain Dew—the same drink favored by his Republican opponent, Ohio Senator JD Vance.

In a surprising move this week, Kamala Harris chose Walz as her running mate, aiming to solidify her slight lead over former President Donald Trump. Walz was the first Democrat to publicly label Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, as "weird"—a narrative embraced by the Democratic campaign.

Now in his second term as governor, the 60-year-old Walz has earned recognition for his progressive policies while maintaining an appeal to rural voters in conservative strongholds.

Democrats aim to leverage his unique political resume, which includes experience on Capitol Hill, as a public-school teacher, and as a state high school championship football coach, in their national campaign. His selection suggests Harris aims to compete in both the Rust and Sun Belt states that appeared to have fallen out of grasp when Joe Biden was on top of the ticket.

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