Gov. Tim Walz’s political future took an unexpected turn Monday when he announced he would not seek reelection, reversing course less than four months after launching his campaign for an unprecedented third consecutive term.
In a statement released Monday morning, Walz said he can’t give a political campaign his all after what he described as an “extraordinarily difficult year for our state.”
The announcement comes as Walz, 61, faces growing national criticism from President Donald Trump and others over his handling of fraud in state safety net programs. The controversy intensified after a conservative influencer’s viral video last week alleged widespread fraud at Somali-run child care centers in Minneapolis.
“Every minute I spend defending my own political interests 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 prey on our differences,” Walz said in his statement.
The two-term Democratic governor, who served as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in the 2024 presidential election, had announced his reelection bid in September. No Minnesota governor has won a third consecutive term since the state switched to four-year terms in 1963.
Political insiders said Walz had faced mounting pressure from Democratic colleagues to make a decision on his 2026 run as his approval ratings sagged. A June 2025 Minnesota Star Tribune poll found 49 percent of respondents believed he should not seek reelection, while 45 percent supported another term.
The Trump administration has launched investigations into Minnesota state programs and announced a freeze of federal child care funding following allegations of fraud. The Department of Homeland Security also deployed agents to Minneapolis, with one law enforcement official telling CNN the buildup was due in part to the viral video.
Walz referenced years of alleged fraud in his statement, saying that an organized group of criminals have sought to take advantage of the state’s generosity. He argued his administration is taking decisive action to address the crisis, though he acknowledged more work remains.
The governor also criticized what he called political gamesmanship from Republicans, stating the situation has made fighting fraud more difficult. He specifically mentioned Trump and his allies in Washington and St. Paul as contributing to heightened politics around the issue.
Walz’s withdrawal reshapes the 2026 gubernatorial race. Multiple prominent Minnesota Democrats are considered possible candidates, including U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon.
A crowded Republican primary had already developed prior to Walz’s announcement. Candidates include former state Sen. Scott Jensen, whom Walz defeated in 2022, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, state House Speaker Lisa Demuth and state Rep. Kristin Robbins.
During his tenure, Walz leveraged Democratic control of the state government to enact progressive policies including tax modifications, free school meals, universal gun background checks, abortion rights protections and free college tuition for low-income families.
Walz, a former high school teacher and Army National Guard veteran, served in the U.S. House of Representatives before becoming governor in 2019. He rose to national prominence as Harris’ running mate, with his description of Trump and running mate JD Vance as “weird” becoming a widely used Democratic talking point.
He is scheduled to hold a news conference at 11 a.m. Monday.
