Why Tim Walz Is Dropping Out of the Minnesota Governor Race

Minnesota’s Gov. Tim Walz has announced he is dropping his re-election bid and will not seek a third term this coming November amid widespread fraud allegations within the state. Walz, who ran as the Democratic Party’s vice presidential nominee in the 2024 election, has encountered lower approval ratings over the past month as criticism continues to mount amid investigations that state welfare agencies were widely targeted by fraud. Walz, 61, pointed to the scandal and the general political climate in his statement on Monday morning, claiming that “political gamesmanship from Republicans” is making the fight against fraudsters “harder to win.” Explaining his decision not to run, the former teacher said that after speaking with his family and team over the festive season, he has come to the realization that he can’t give a political campaign his all and he wants to “let others worry about the election” so that he can “focus on the work.” “Donald Trump and his allies—in Washington, in St. Paul, and online—want to make our state a colder, meaner place,” Walz claimed, referencing how the Trump Administration plans to freeze all federal funds to Minnesota child care centers in response to the instances of fraud. “They want to poison our people against each other by attacking our neighbors. And, ultimately, they want to take away much of what makes Minnesota the best place in America to raise a family,” Walz maintained. Walz was first elected Governor in 2018, succeeding fellow Democrat Mark Dayton. Minnesota has held a Democratic governor for several years, but Walz’s departure could shake up the landscape for the 2026 race. Potential successors include Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota’s Attorney General Keith Ellison, and lieutenant governor Peggy Flanagan. Read More: Protesters Condemn Trump’s Targeting of Minnesota’s Somali Community: ‘This Is Our Country, Not His’ During the end of 2025, Trump used the fraud allegations to target Minnesota’s Somali community, accusing them of “destroying” the state. He has also repeatedly taken aim at Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democratic Congresswoman for Minnesota, who was born in Somalia. Trump’s targeting of the Somali community has sparked protests in the state and criticism from members of the Democratic Party. Representatives Gregory W. Meeks of New York and Sara Jacobs of California, along with Senators Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Cory Booker of New Jersey condemned Trump’s remarks about Somali immigrants in the U.S. in a joint statement.