Walz said during an interview with MS Now Wednesday that he didn’t regret dropping out before a “consequential moment,” referring to the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Walz dropped out two days before Good’s killing.
“One of the things is, I have no political consideration, will never run for an elected office again,” Walz said. “Never again. I will just do the work.”
Walz announced his decision to end his reelection campaign after weeks of scrutiny over his office’s handling of the exposed welfare fraud in Minnesota.
Since Walz dropped his reelection campaign, there have been protests and backlash against President Donald Trump‘s deployment of ICE officers and border patrol agents in Minneapolis.
The killing of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis pushed the Trump administration to make local changes to their immigration enforcement strategy there, including sending border czar Tom Homan to help diffuse the situation.
There have been three shootings by federal law enforcement in Minneapolis since 2026. The shootings have sparked massive protests against federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota and across the country.
Walz, who was former Vice President Kamala Harris’s running mate in 2024, said there are “other ways to serve” his country and that he will “find them.”
“There’s heroes on the streets that we don’t know their names,” he said. “They’re never going to run for office, and those grasstop leaders brought this administration to their knees this week to do something about it.”
Walz said he is a “lightning rod” for public attention.
“This is a tough space for I’m in because I know they hate me personally and they take it out on my constituents,” he said. “Because old white guys who are former governors tend to land on their feet OK.”
DEMOCRATS USE DEATHS OF ALEX PRETTI AND RENEE GOOD TO FUNDRAISE
On Thursday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) officially announced her campaign for the Minnesota governorship.
“Minnesotans, we’ve been through a lot,” she wrote on X. “And I believe this moment calls for grit, resilience, and faith in each other. I believe we must stand up for what’s right. And fix what’s wrong. Today, I’m announcing my candidacy for Governor.”
Walz has not publicly endorsed Klobuchar, but several Democrats have, including former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
