Tim Walz, Democrats’ 2024 VP candidate, exits Minnesota governor race
Walz will not seek a third term as governor, as Senator Amy Klobuchar explores a bid for the open seat in the 2026 election
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Democrats’ 2024 candidate for vice-president, is ending his bid for a third term amid President Donald Trump’s relentless focus on a fraud investigation into the state’s child care programmes and its Somali community.
Less than four months after announcing his re-election campaign, Walz said Monday that negative attention and Republican attacks have contributed to an “extraordinarily difficult year for our state,” making it impossible for him to serve full time as governor while also being a candidate to keep his job.
“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,” Walz said at the state capitol. “So I’ve decided to step out of this race, and I’ll let others worry about the election while I focus on the work that’s in front of me for the next year.”
Walz did not take questions from reporters after speaking for about seven minutes, much of which involved repeating his earlier written statement announcing his decision.
“Donald Trump and his allies - in Washington, in St. Paul, and online - want to make our state a colder, meaner place,” Walz said, referring to the Trump administration withholding funds for the programmes and the Republican president’s attacks on Somali immigrants in Minnesota.