Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, introduced Monday that he would drop his bid for reelection as governor, saying that he wouldn’t be capable of give a marketing campaign all of his consideration as he works to defend Minnesota towards allegations of fraud and right-wing assaults — together with from President Donald Trump.
“In September, I introduced that I might run for a historic third time period as Minnesota’s Governor. And I’ve each confidence that, if I gave it my all, I might reach that effort,” Walz wrote in a press release Monday.
“However as I mirrored on this second with my household and my crew over the vacations, I got here to the conclusion that I can not give a political marketing campaign my all. Each minute I spend defending my very own political pursuits could be a minute I can not spend defending the folks of Minnesota towards the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our variations.”
Gov. Tim Walz delivers remarks throughout a press convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 5, 2026.
Craig Lassig/EPA/Shutterstock
Walz, who served as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in 2024, had come beneath hearth in latest weeks amid allegations of fraud in child-care facilities in Minnesota. Walz had mentioned the state was investigating alleged fraud and slammed how rhetoric focusing on the state’s Somali group in regards to the allegations may put folks in danger.
Vice President and 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and her working mate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz wave to supporters as they depart after talking throughout a marketing campaign rally in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, August 7, 2024.
Kamil Krzaczynski/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar met with Walz over the weekend a couple of doable bid for governor, based on two sources conversant in the assembly.
This comes as a supply near Klobuchar tells ABC Information that she’s been getting a number of outreach encouraging her to run. She is contemplating the bid, based on two sources, however hasn’t made a last resolution.
Representatives for Klobuchar, who gained reelection to the Senate in 2024, didn’t instantly reply to ABC Information’ requests for remark.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar on ABC’s This Week.
ABC Information
Walz was the topic of Trump’s frequent criticism — with the president claiming he was “a Crooked Governor” in a latest social media publish.
The president commented on Walz’s resolution in a social media publish on Monday, saying Walz “destroyed the State of Minnesota.”
Walz would have made historical past if he gained the governorship in 2026, as beforehand no Minnesota governor has gained a third consecutive four-year term.
The Democratic Governors Affiliation, the arm of the Democratic Social gathering targeted on electing Democratic governors, launched a press release on Monday praising Walz for his work with out endorsing some other potential candidates.
Gov. Tim Walz delivers remarks throughout a press convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 5, 2026.
Stephen Maturen/Getty Pictures
“Regardless of who decides to run or how a lot nationwide Republicans wish to spend, the DGA stays very assured Minnesotans will elect one other robust Democratic governor this November,” DGA chair and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear wrote in a press release.
On the Republican facet, longtime Trump loyalist and CEO of MyPillow Mike Lindell announced in December that he’s working for governor of Minnesota. Lindell has already been endorsed by Trump.
MyPillow CEO and founder Mike Lindell speaks to reporters at his MyPillow manufacturing facility within the Minneapolis suburb of Shakopee, Minn., on Dec, 11, 2025, as he launches his marketing campaign for the Republican nomination to problem Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz in 2026.
Steve Karnowski/AP
Walz additionally has been seen as a possible 2028 presidential hopeful, and visited a number of key presidential battleground states in 2025, though he has beforehand downplayed the prospect of working for the Democratic presidential nomination.
Walz, in his assertion saying he wouldn’t search reelection, had harsh phrases for Trump and Republicans who’ve excoriated the state for alleged child-care fraud and mentioned that it occurred on Walz’s watch.
“I will not mince phrases right here,” Walz wrote. “Donald Trump and his allies — in Washington, in St. Paul, and on-line — wish to make our state a colder, meaner place.”
Saying that the state authorities had taken steps to research fraud, and continues to work on combating it, Walz mentioned Minnesota “will win the struggle towards the fraudsters. However the political gamesmanship we’re seeing from Republicans is just making that struggle more durable to win.”
Republicans celebrated Walz’s announcement on Monday. Home Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Republican representing Minnesota, wrote in a brief assertion reacting to Walz’s announcement, “Good riddance.”
“It’s been failure after failure for Tim Walz, so it’s no shock he chickened out of working for re-election,” Republican Nationwide Committee Regional Communications Director Delanie Bomar wrote in a separate assertion on Monday.
Minnesota has been beneath scrutiny in latest weeks over yearslong investigations and controversies about alleged fraud in child-care facilities.
In keeping with federal expenses filed over the past couple of years, a minimum of 70 folks have been a part of a wide-ranging legal conspiracy that exploited two federally funded diet packages to fraudulently receive greater than $250 million in one of many largest COVID-era fraud schemes anyplace within the nation.
The defendants allegedly used a Minnesota-based nonprofit group known as Feeding Our Future to keep away from robust scrutiny from the Minnesota Division of Training, which was speculated to be conducting oversight of the packages.
Extra scrutiny got here not too long ago after an unverified on-line video from conservative influencer Nick Shirley alleging fraud in little one care in Somali communities in Minneapolis. Minnesota officers have disputed the allegations. Throughout more moderen website checks, officers mentioned areas highlighted by the video have been working as anticipated.
Final week, an official with the Division of Well being and Human Companies mentioned that the Trump administration is pausing child-care funding to all states after the Minnesota allegations emerged. The official mentioned the funds shall be launched “solely when states show they’re being spent legitimately.”
“Republicans are taking part in politics with the way forward for our state,” Walz mentioned in his assertion on Monday. “And it is shameful.”
ABC Information’ Laura Romero and Mike Levine contributed to this report.
