Klobuchar will run for Minnesota governor after Walz exit : NPR

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Anna Moneymaker/Getty Pictures North America ST. PAUL, Minnesota — Sen. Amy Klobuchar introduced her run for Minnesota governor early Thursday with a video posted on X, following Gov. Tim Walz's latest announcement that he was ending his bid for a 3rd time period within the function.

Minnesotans, we’ve been by quite a bit.

And I imagine this second requires grit, resilience, and religion in one another.

I imagine we should rise up for what’s proper. And repair what’s flawed.

At present, I’m asserting my candidacy for Governor. pic.twitter.com/yVnbvmMyxO

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) January 29, 2026

Klobuchar, who received a fourth Senate time period in 2024, has racked up double digit wins in every of her races. In 2020, she ran an unsuccessful presidential marketing campaign amongst a crowded subject of Democratic candidates.

When Minnesota's Democratic Gov. Tim Walz introduced that he would drop his bid for reelection, the concept of Klobuchar getting into the race started to emerge.

"I like my job very a lot," Klobuchar instructed Minnesota Public Radio on Wednesday, forward of Thursday's announcement. "And Minnesota has given me this honor of serving them within the Senate. However I like my state extra."

Walz confronted criticism from state Republicans to President Trump for allegations of rampant social-services fraud on his watch. There isn't any proof that Walz took half within the fraud or dedicated another crimes, however his political opponents say that he didn't cease the wholesale theft of taxpayer funds throughout his time in workplace.

As a sitting governor, Walz was not dealing with any competitors from different Democratic hopefuls. But greater than a dozen Republicans are within the governor's race, together with Home Speaker Lisa Demuth, the state's high Republican, businessman Kendall Qualls, state Rep. Kristin Robbins, and My Pillow founder and CEO Mike Lindell.

Klobuchar's entrance may upend that GOP subject as nicely, as a few of the candidates reassess their probabilities of defeating a sturdy statewide official as an alternative of the politically wounded Walz.

Final week, when Klobuchar filed preliminary paperwork to run for governor, the Minnesota Republican Social gathering known as on her to resign from the Senate whereas she campaigns for an additional workplace.

"Minnesota wants a governor who's all in—not a Washington insider operating a gutless political audition," Minnesota Republican Social gathering Chair Alex Plechash mentioned in a press release. "If Klobuchar cannot even select which job she desires, Minnesotans will be assured she will not have the spine to repair the issues Democrats created."

Former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty is amongst those that have mentioned Republicans' possibilities at profitable the governor's seat for the primary time in 20 years would weaken if Klobuchar joined the race.

"That is going to essentially change the governor's race in Minnesota," Pawlenty instructed MPR Information. "She could be a really, very formidable candidate in that race and so it adjustments every little thing."