Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) is dropping his reelection bid for a third term, the Minnesota governor announced on Monday.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) reportedly met with Walz on Sunday about the decision and is considering jumping into the race.
Walz’s exit from the 2026 gubernatorial race comes amid mounting scrutiny from both sides of the political aisle over his administration’s handling of exposed welfare fraud in the state. He said in a statement that 2025 was “an extraordinarily difficult year” for Minnesota that “ended on a particularly sour note,” directly addressing the political attention on the welfare fraud.
“For the last several years, an organized group of criminals have sought to take advantage of our state’s generosity. And even as we make progress in the fight against the fraudsters, we now see an organized group of political actors seeking to take advantage of the crisis,” Walz said.
He said he concluded over the holidays that he “can’t give a political campaign [his] all.”
“Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute l can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences,” Walz said.
The political spotlight narrowed in on Walz and Minnesota when President Donald Trump rescinded temporary protected status for all Somalis residing in the state. His order came after a City Journal report alleged that fraudsters stole millions of Minnesota taxpayer dollars and funneled that money to the Somali-based al Shabaab terrorist group.
A viral YouTube video from independent journalist Nick Shirley focused on fraudulent, largely Somali-run day cares in the state, escalating pressure on Walz’s administration to respond. As the FBI surged its investigative resources in Minnesota and the Small Business Administration cut off grant funding to the state, officials within Walz’s administration said that previous investigations into the day cares revealed no “findings of fraud.”
Walz, who rose to national prominence as former Vice President Kamala Harris’s pick for her running mate in the 2024 presidential election, has faced criticism and resignation calls over how he has handled the reports of fraud. The House Oversight Committee asked Walz to appear and testify on the fraud reports in early February.
A December approval rating poll had Walz at 48% approval, a record low over four years, according to a local Minnesota outlet.
Walz has served two terms as Minnesota’s governor since 2019, and announced he would run for a third term in September. He had not met any significant primary threats before his decision to drop out, but according to several reports, Klobuchar and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon have expressed interest in running.
Reports began circulating that Walz could drop his reelection bid late Sunday evening.
A YOUTUBER SCOOPED LEGACY MEDIA IN EXPOSING WALZ’S SOMALI FRAUD SCANDAL
“I know this news may come as a surprise. But I’m passing on the race with zero sadness and zero regret. After all, I didn’t run for this job so I could have this job. I ran for this job so I could do this job. Minnesota faces an enormous challenge this year. And I refuse to spend even one minute of 2026 doing anything other than rising to meet the moment. Minnesota has to come first – always,” Walz said in his Monday statement.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
