Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Monday morning that he will drop his bid for a third term. The governor’s announcement comes amid national scrutiny of fraud in Minnesota.
For years, Minnesota has dealt with a seemingly unending fraud problem in which state-run, Medicaid-funded programs have been ransacked by fraudsters. Last month, federal prosecutors said they estimate as much as $9 billion has been lost to fraud since 2018.
That fraud, perpetrated primarily by Somali individuals, has been thrust into the national spotlight in recent weeks and led to widespread criticism of Walz. Now, the DFLer governor is dropping his reelection bid just months after launching his campaign for a third term.
In a Monday statement, Walz addressed Minnesota’s battle with fraud in state government programs. Among other things, Walz accused Republicans of exploiting fraud for political purposes and said Minnesota has made “progress in the fight against fraudsters.”
Turning his attention to the upcoming 2026 elections, Walz said “election years have a way of ramping up the politics at a time when we simply can’t afford more politics.
“In September, I announced that I would run for a historic third term as Minnesota’s Governor. And I have every confidence that, if I gave it my all, I would succeed in that effort.
“But as I reflected on this moment with my family and my team over the holidays, I came to the conclusion that I can’t give a political campaign my all. 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.
“So I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work.
“I know this news may come as a surprise. But I’m passing on the race with zero sadness and zero regret. After all, I didn’t run for this job so I could have this job. I ran for this job so I could do this job. Minnesota faces an enormous challenge this year. And I refuse to spend even one minute of 2026 doing anything other than rising to meet the moment. Minnesota has to come first – always.”
Republican gubernatorial candidates react to Walz’s withdrawal
Even before Minnesota fraud had become a national story, Walz was considered far weaker politically in 2026 than in previous elections. Many Republicans had lined up to challenge Walz in this year’s election and were using fraud as a key issue against the governor.
On Monday, Walz’s would-be Republican opponents reacted to his decision to leave the race. State Rep. Kristin Robbins said Walz “knows he will lose in November, and would rather give up than take responsibility.”
Signaling that she will stay in the race even with Walz’s departure, Robbins said, “Our campaign is building the coalition necessary to stop the fraud, protect our kids, and make Minnesota prosper.”
House Speaker Lisa Demuth said she will stay in the race “no matter who the Democrats decide to run,” and said “If Democrats think they can sweep Minnesota’s fraud scandal away by swapping out Tim Walz, they are wrong.”
Similarly, businessman Kendall Qualls is staying in the race and said “Walz is terrified to run on his record. But it doesn’t matter if the DFL props up Amy Klobuchar or any other candidate, they share Walz’s record of failure and incompetence.”
According to The New York Times, Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has expressed interest in running to replace Walz. Should Klobuchar enter the race, she would widely be seen as the favorite to win the state governorship.
A four-term U.S. senator, Klobuchar’s current Senate term does not expire until January of 2031. As such, she could run for governor and not risk losing her Senate seat even in the event of a loss in the 2026 gubernatorial election.
Additionally, Klobuchar could appoint her own Senate replacement if she won Minnesota’s governorship.
Chris Madel, an attorney and Republican candidate for governor, also reacted to Walz’s departure from the 2026 race, saying, “since day one, I’ve said ‘Tim Walz sucks’ is not a strategy. Minnesotans need solutions and that’s what I intend to deliver.”
Madel, who has represented Alpha News in multiple cases, went on to say that today’s news “will not distract me from backing the blue and restoring sanity to the state I love.”
Regarding a potential contest with Klobuchar, a Madel campaign spokesperson said, “Chris Madel beat Amy Klobuchar in the courtroom and will beat her at the ballot box.”
Luke Sprinkel
Luke Sprinkel previously worked as a Legislative Assistant at the Minnesota House of Representatives. He grew up as a Missionary Kid (MK) living in England, Thailand, Tanzania, and the Middle East. Luke graduated from Regent University in 2018.
Anthony Gockowski
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and wrote for the Daily Caller.
