Gov. Tim Walz said “I think that’s a safe assumption” when asked on Wednesday if he is leaning toward running for an unprecedented third consecutive term.
While Walz appeared at Pine Bend Elementary in Inver Grove Heights for a meeting of his “Children’s Cabinet,” he fielded a range of questions from media gathered to cover his tour of the school.
Walz also doubled down on his promise to call a special session focused on gun control.
When asked about his decision-making process, Walz invoked the Aug. 27 Annunciation school shooting and said that tragedy coupled with the “uncertainty in the federal government” is what “steels me.”
“This is one of those things where I think you don’t switch horses midstream,” Walz said, referencing his apparent desire to run for a third term.
Walz also told media members he will attend a memorial for one of the Annunciation students who was murdered in the Aug. 27 attack, and he challenged legislators to watch the service as they consider a special session.
“I would like every member of the Minnesota legislature to watch that entire celebration of life that is coming on Sunday, just to make sure you have all the facts before you make a statement on what you would like to do around this,” he said.
When pressed further on when he might make a reelection announcement, Walz said, “We want to make an official announcement here in the next few days to try and get out there.”
He then said he would gather with his family “over the weekend” to make a decision.
When asked if he has made a decision privately, Walz looked over at his wife Gwen Walz, who said, “No.”
Republican legislator reacts to Walz comments
Following the press conference, Republican legislators criticized his invoking the victims of the Annunciation attack while answering questions about running for a third term.
“I’m disgusted by (Walz’s) continued politicization of the Annunciation tragedy,” said Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville.
“He indicated today that he’ll use an upcoming memorial service as a stage for political theater,” Hudson continued. “He calls on Republican legislators to ‘gather all the facts’ while he continues to paper over the identity and ideology of the killer. It’s clear that his purpose in calling a special session is not to be productive but to launch his campaign.”
Hank Long
Hank Long is a journalism and communications professional whose writing career includes coverage of the Minnesota legislature, city and county governments and the commercial real estate industry. Hank received his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota, where he studied journalism, and his law degree at the University of St. Thomas. The Minnesota native lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and four children. His dream is to be around when the Vikings win the Super Bowl.
