Jānis Vagris was born on 17 October 1930 in Naudītes Parish,[2] which is located in Latvia.
He pursued his higher education at the University of Latvia, where he graduated from the Faculty of Mechanics.
[4] From 1966 to 1973, Vagris was the first and second secretary of the Liepājā city committee,[2] after which he joined the Communist Party of Latvia.
On 4 October 1988, Vagris was promoted to the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Latvia.
[5] He made a speech at the Mežaparks Great Bandstand, three days before the Popular Front of Latvia's first congress.