Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has announced he will not seek a third term, citing the need to focus on governing amid a fraud scandal involving social services that has drawn Republican criticism. The Democrat, who ran as Kamala Harris's vice-presidential candidate in 2024, said he could not give a political campaign his all while defending the state against 'criminals who prey on our generosity'.
The fraud cases, including organised theft of meals for children and services for autistic children, have become a major liability for Walz. Republicans, including Donald Trump, have used the issue to target Somali residents in the state. Trump recently directed a surge of immigration enforcement agents to Minnesota, leading to hundreds of arrests despite local pushback.
Walz said he had spoken with Senator Amy Klobuchar about her potentially running for governor. Klobuchar, who has represented Minnesota in the Senate since 2007, regularly wins statewide elections. Walz had announced his third-term bid in September, but a poll last summer found about half of Minnesotans opposed his re-election.
In his announcement, Walz accused Trump and his allies of seeking to 'make our state a colder, meaner place' by attacking neighbours and taking tax dollars meant for childcare. He said the 'buck stops with me' on fighting fraud but criticised Republicans for 'political gamesmanship' that hinders progress.
Trump responded on Truth Social, alleging without evidence that Walz was involved in stealing taxpayer money and speculating he would leave office early. Walz’s increased profile from the vice-presidential campaign made him a target, with Trump sharing conspiracy theories about the killings of Walz’s close friends.
