Updated: January 06, 2026
Tim Walz, the former Minnesota Governor and 2024 Democratic vice presidential candidate, has largely kept his personal life private. However, in late 2024, a decades-old romance from his time teaching in China surfaced, sparking widespread curiosity. Here’s a closer look at the alleged ex-girlfriend of Tim Walz and what we know today.
Table of Contents
Who Is Tim Walz’s Ex-Girlfriend from China?
The woman at the center of this story is Jenna Wang, now 59, who spoke publicly in October 2024 about her relationship with a then-25-year-old Tim Walz. Wang, the daughter of a high-ranking Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official named Bin Hui, was an English teacher in Guangdong Province when she met Walz.
Walz arrived in Foshan, China, in August 1989 through a Harvard-affiliated program called WorldTeach to teach English at No. 1 High School. Wang, teaching at a nearby middle school, attended one of his lectures. According to her account in interviews with outlets like the Daily Mail, Walz whispered, “You are very beautiful,” sparking their connection.
Their romance was secretive due to the risks—dating a Westerner could have jeopardized Wang’s career and family ties in post-Tiananmen Square China.
The Details of Their Alleged Relationship
Wang described the affair as passionate and intense. The couple met in private, often in Walz’s staff accommodation, where they listened to music (including George Michael), shared dreams, and spent intimate time together.
- They enjoyed karaoke nights and walks in parks to avoid detection.
- Walz reportedly gifted her lavish items like Ray-Bans sunglasses and gold jewelry from trips to Hong Kong and Macau.
- Public displays were limited; the secrecy added excitement, Wang said.
She believed it would lead to marriage and a life in America. However, tensions arose during a group tour when Walz made public gestures, like trying to feed her fruit, which embarrassed her.
The relationship ended bitterly when Walz allegedly accused her of wanting only a U.S. visa. Wang felt “cheap” and heartbroken, even contemplating suicide. They never saw each other again after Walz returned to the U.S.
Key Facts About Jenna Wang and the Romance
Here’s a quick overview in table form for clarity:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Jenna Wang (now a teacher and translator in Europe) |
| Age at Time | 24 (in 1989) |
| Background | Daughter of CCP official Bin Hui; English teacher in Foshan |
| How They Met | Through Walz’s lecture; he complimented her beauty |
| Duration | Several months in 1989 |
| Highlights | Secret meetings, gifts, music sessions, dreams of marriage |
| Ending | Argument over intentions; no contact after Walz left China |
| Wang’s Current View | Called Walz “selfish”; questioned his integrity in 2024 interviews |
| Walz’s Response | Harris-Walz campaign declined to comment |
Tim Walz’s Life After China: Marriage and Family
Walz returned to the U.S., continued teaching, and met his future wife, Gwen Whipple (now Gwen Walz), while both were educators in Nebraska. They married in 1994—five years after his China stint—and honeymooned there with students.
The Walzes built a stable family life:
- They have two children: daughter Hope (born 2001) and son Gus (born 2006), conceived after fertility treatments.
- Gwen, a longtime educator, supported Walz’s political rise from Congress to governor.
No other pre-marriage relationships have been publicly detailed beyond the 2024 revelations about Wang.
Conclusion
The story of Tim Walz’s ex-girlfriend Jenna Wang is a glimpse into a young man’s adventures abroad before his long, committed marriage to Gwen. Emerging amid the 2024 campaign, it highlighted contrasts in personal narratives but didn’t alter Walz’s public image significantly. As of 2026, with Walz stepping back from a third gubernatorial term amid other issues, this chapter remains a footnote in his life—a passionate, fleeting romance from nearly four decades ago.
Relationships evolve, and Walz’s enduring partnership with Gwen underscores family as his priority. What do you think—does the past define us, or do our present choices matter more?