ST PAUL, Minn. (AP) 鈥� Minnesota Gov. , Democrats’ 2024 candidate for vice president, is ending his bid for a third term amid President Donald Trump鈥檚 relentless focus on a fraud investigation into the state’s and its Somali community.
Less than four months after announcing , Walz said Monday that negative attention and Republican attacks have contributed to an 鈥渆xtraordinarily difficult year for our state,” making it impossible for him to serve full time as governor while also being a candidate to keep his job.
鈥淓very minute that I spend defending my own political interest would be a minute I can鈥檛 spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who want to prey on our differences,” Walz said at the state capitol. “So I鈥檝e decided to step out of this race, and I鈥檒l let others worry about the election while I focus on the work that鈥檚 in front of me for the next year.鈥�
Walz did not take questions from reporters after speaking for about seven minutes, much of which involved repeating his earlier written statement announcing his decision.
鈥淒onald Trump and his allies 鈥� in Washington, in St. Paul, and online 鈥� want to make our state a colder, meaner place,鈥� Walz said, referring to the Trump administration withholding funds for the programs and the Republican president’s in Minnesota.
Walz did not explicitly acknowledge the impact of a viral video from a right-wing influencer who at day care centers operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis. But the Trump administration has cited the video in its decision to cut off certain federal funding streams, and the video’s creator, Nick Shirley, was happy to take credit for the governor’s decision.
鈥淚 ENDED TIM WALZ,鈥� Shirley posted Monday on social media.
Trump wrote on social media that Walz was not running 鈥渂ecause he was caught, REDHANDED鈥� with 鈥渟tealing Tens of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars,鈥� an accusation against the governor that lacked evidence despite widely acknowledged fraud problems. The president said Walz 鈥渉as destroyed the State of Minnesota.鈥�
The candidates to replace Walz
Walz鈥檚 exit scrambles the contest in a Democratic-leaning state that Republicans have insisted they can win. Democrats hold 24 of 50 governor鈥檚 seats nationwide, with 36 seats, including Minnesota鈥檚, on the ballot this year.
Democratic Sen. is considering entering the Minnesota race, according to a person close to her. The person, who wasn鈥檛 authorized to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the senator, who ran for president in 2020, has not made a final decision.
Around a dozen Republicans are already running. They include MyPillow founder and chief executive , an election denier who is close to Trump. They also include Minnesota , of Cold Spring; , a former state senator from Chaska who was the party鈥檚 2022 candidate; state Rep. Kristin Robbins, of Maple Grove; defense lawyer and Chris Madel; and former executive
A military veteran, union supporter and former high school educator and coach, Walz helped enact an ambitious Democratic agenda for his state, including sweeping protections for abortion rights and generous aid to families.
picked Walz as her running mate in the 2024 presidential election after against Trump and his running mate, then-Ohio Sen. JD Vance 鈥� 鈥淭hese guys are just weird鈥� 鈥� spread widely.
Walz continued building his national profile since his and Harris’ defeat in November. He was of Trump as he toured and primary states. In May, he in South Carolina to stand up to the Republican president, saying, 鈥淢aybe it鈥檚 time for us to be a little meaner.鈥�
On Monday evening, Harris wrote on social media that Walz is 鈥渁lways guided by what鈥檚 best for the people of Minnesota,鈥� and 鈥渉is decision not to seek reelection reflects that same selfless commitment to the people he serves.鈥�
There were partisan reactions to Walz’s announcement
Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin, who led Minnesota Democrats when Walz was first elected governor in 2018, said Walz 鈥渆ntered public life for the right reasons and never lost sight of them.” Walz’s guiding principle, Martin added, 鈥渉as always been showing up and doing the work that actually makes their lives better.鈥�
Klobuchar, posting on X, praised Walz as 鈥渁 true public servant鈥� who made a 鈥渄ifficult decision鈥� but said nothing about her own pending choice.
Another Minnesotan, Republican House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, was more succinct, issuing a statement that said only: 鈥淕ood riddance.鈥�
At the Republican Governors Association, spokeswoman Courtney Alexander blasted Walz for 鈥渇ailed leadership鈥� and said the state’s next Democratic candidate 鈥渨ill need to defend years of mismanagement and misplaced priorities.鈥�
Walz stood by his stewardship, saying 鈥渁 single taxpayer dollar wasted on fraud should be intolerable” and insisting that his administration has been working diligently to address the problem.
A look at Walz’s time as governor
During his two terms, Walz navigated a closely divided legislature. In his first term, he served alongside a Democratic-led House and Republican-controlled Senate that resisted his proposals to use higher taxes to boost money for schools, health care and roads. But he helped broker compromises.
He used the office鈥檚 emergency power during the COVID-19 pandemic to shutter businesses and schools, prompting .
Republicans also were critical of Walz over what they saw as his slow response to sometimes violent unrest that followed , a Black man, by a white Minneapolis police officer in 2020. Walz pleaded for calm after Floyd’s death but stood out as a white political leader who expressed empathy toward Black Americans and their experiences with police violence.
In his second term, Walz worked with Democratic majorities in both legislative chambers to chart a more liberal course in state government, aided by . Minnesota the state abortion restrictions enacted in the past by Republicans, for transgender youths and legalized . Walz and his fellow Democrats also enacted free school meals for all students and a paid family and medical leave program that went live on Jan. 1.
That record, combined with Walz鈥檚 rural background and experience representing southern Minnesota in Congress, landed him on Harris鈥� radar after she replaced Joe Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket. , she opted for Walz over other candidates including North Carolina鈥檚 Roy Cooper, Kentucky鈥檚 Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania鈥檚 and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Walz got a warm welcome from Democratic voters but drew mixed reviews for his against Vance. Even Harris about being disappointed in his performance.
More recently, Walz has been frustrated in his efforts to enact new gun control measures following a mass shooting last August at Annunciation School in Minneapolis, which . He had hoped to call a special session to consider a list of gun safety proposals.
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Barrow reported from Atlanta.
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The list of GOP candidates in the above story has been corrected to remove David Hann, who is running for U.S. Senate.
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