Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz abruptly ended his bid for a third term Monday, saying he wanted to spend his final year in office focused on fighting fraud in state programs instead of campaigning.
Walz’s decision instantly reshaped the 2026 governor’s race with attention turning to potential Democratic contenders, including Minnesota U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a political powerhouse who’s won four Senate terms with runaway margins.
In brief remarks to reporters, Walz defended his administration’s response to mounting fraud scandals in state social service programs and attacked Republicans in Minnesota and Washington for “political gamesmanship” that he said hurt the effort.
He left without taking questions.
Walz, 61, was seeking an unprecedented third four-year term. He kicked off the campaign at a rally in Minneapolis in September and amassed millions in his campaign account.
But he has been dogged in recent months by staggering reports of fraud in state-run social service programs. While the governor had frozen some at-risk funding and stepped up efforts to detect fraud sooner, the near-daily drip of fraud allegations — which escalated in the past couple weeks — had consumed the political discussion.
"I came to the conclusion that I can't give a political campaign my all,” he told reporters. “Every minute that I spend defending my own political interest would be a minute I can't spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who want to prey on our differences. So I've decided to step out of this race, and I'll let others worry about the election."
Responses to Walz’s decisions fell largely along party lines with DFLers praising his work and Republicans attacking Walz as incompetent.
State Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, applauded Walz for his leadership “through some of the most difficult challenges in our history, through COVID and civil unrest, through chaotic, hostile presidencies, the assassinations of June 14” and the killings at Annunciation Church and School in Minneapolis.
Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, in response to Walz’s announcement, issued a two-word statement: “Good riddance.”
Increased stature, increased scrutiny
Ahead of Monday’s news, more than a dozen Republicans had entered the governor’s race, sensing vulnerability for Walz despite his comfortable wins in 2018 and 2022. It was a turnabout for Walz, who built himself into a national figure by touting Democratic accomplishments in his state on his watch.
During a summer shakeup for Democrats that led to President Joe Biden ending his reelection campaign in 2024, Walz landed the vice presidential nomination under Kamala Harris.
But that increased stature brought him greater scrutiny and made him an attractive target of conservatives.
That included President Donald Trump, whose own efforts to weaken Walz intensified lately. In recent weeks, Trump pushed his agencies to investigate Minnesota on multiple fronts and threatened to withhold money for day care, nutrition and transportation programs if the governor’s administration didn’t bend to data demands or policy changes.
Trump also circulated baseless claims over the weekend that Walz had a role in the assassination of Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman, which drew sharp backlash and a call by Hortman’s children for a presidential apology.
What’s next for Walz isn’t immediately clear. He served six terms in Congress before winning the governor’s office. He formerly taught high school civics in Mankato prior to his entry into politics, which began with an upset win in southern Minnesota over a Republican incumbent as voters soured on the Iraq war.
Both parties will hold endorsing conventions in May, but could need August primaries to determine their nominees. The filing period for governor and other races closes in early June.
Klobuchar considering run
A source close to Klobuchar told MPR News on Monday that she is seriously considering a run for Minnesota governor amid signs that Walz will exit the race.
The official who spoke only on the condition of anonymity said Klobuchar, a four-term senator, is fielding calls encouraging her to run.
In a statement Monday morning, Klobuchar praised Walz and said “his impact will be felt for generations to come.” She did not say whether she planned to enter the race for governor.
Klobuchar has won all of her statewide races with ease, is a prolific fundraiser and has a background as a prosecutor. That last part matters given the attention paid to fraud in the campaign and steps to hold scammers accountable.
If she does run, “that's going to fundamentally change the governor's race in Minnesota,” former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty told MPR News. “She would be a very, very formidable candidate in that race, and so it changes everything.”
Candidates have until June to file in the race and Klobuchar could face competition for the DFL nomination if she runs.
Walz last appeared before reporters on Dec. 23 at an event warning about fallout from continuing immigration enforcement actions in Minnesota. Days earlier, he disputed a prosecutor’s estimate that fraud cases during his tenure could eventually reach into the billions of dollars.
