Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) has filed her paperwork for a possible gubernatorial bid in Minnesota after Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) abruptly ended his reelection campaign earlier this month.
The preliminary paperwork was filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board on Thursday.
Klobuchar is reportedly preparing to make an official announcement about her entry in the gubernatorial race in the coming days.
Walz bowed out of the race as the Trump administration scrutinized his handling of allegations of widespread fraud involving the state’s social services programs.
The federal government is leading numerous investigations into the matter and deploying high numbers of personnel, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers tasked with detaining illegal immigrants. Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the country.
Since Walz dropped out, Klobuchar reportedly received calls from people telling her to run for governor. Also, she reportedly met with Walz to hear his rationale for exiting the race the night before he made the shock announcement.
Democratic strategists and politicians appeared eager at the prospect of Klobuchar’s possible entrance in the governor’s race, according to Politico.
Presuming she ends up running for governor and winning the election this year, the third-highest-ranking Senate Democrat would be cutting her fourth six-year term short. She last won in 2024.
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Klobuchar, who is by far the most well-known name of the candidates listed by the state’s campaign finance board, will likely clear the Democratic primary field. Earlier this week, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced he would be seeking reelection instead of running for governor.
Meanwhile, the Republican primary candidates include MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, state Rep. Kristin Robbins, and Minneapolis attorney Chris Madel. Kendall Qualls, a former Republican candidate for Minnesota governor, appears to be leading the GOP primary field based on a Minnesota Republican gubernatorial straw poll released last month.
