OAN Staff Cory Hawkins
3:06 PM – Thursday, January 29, 2026
Minnesota Democrat Governor Tim Walz announced during a recent interview that he will never seek an elected position again after his second term as governor ends in January 2027.
While Walz originally launched a bid for a third term in September 2025, he officially withdrew from the 2026 gubernatorial race on January 5th.
“I will never run for an elected office again,” Walz (D-Minn.) said Wednesday during an interview with MS Now, formerly MSNBC. “I have no political consideration.”
Walz’s decision comes as he navigates the fallout from evidence of massive fraud in Minnesota’s taxpayer-funded childcare and nutrition programs. Beyond the state-level scandals, the 61-year-old has been under fire due to a federal probe and recent unrest in Minneapolis.
“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.”
During the interview, Walz expressed a desire to focus on governing without the distractions of campaigning. He described himself as a “lightning rod” for political hostility, suggesting that the opposition directed at him unfairly impacts his constituents.
“Look, I recognize that I’m a lightning rod… I know they hate me personally, and they take it out on my constituents,” Walz stated in the interview.
Walz also referenced the need to address “criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences” rather than engaging in “political gamesmanship.”
Walz’s announcement follows the fatal shooting of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, 37-year-old anti-ICE protesters, by federal officers in Minneapolis. This escalated into a Justice Department investigation, with subpoenas issued to Minnesota leaders to determine if they conspired to obstruct federal immigration operations.
Having entered the national spotlight as Kamala Harris’ 2024 running mate, Walz had previously hinted at a future presidential bid. However, his most recent declaration now suggests that a 2028 run is off the table. Harris noted in a statement that Walz’s “decision not to seek reelection reflects that same selfless commitment to the people he serves.”
Following Walz’s announcement, federal prosecutors released a staggering estimate that fraud within Minnesota’s social services could total $9 billion since 2018, centered largely on childcare and nutrition initiatives.
This revelation has already reshaped the gubernatorial race, with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) declaring her candidacy on a platform of “aggressive welfare reform,” as well as a complete overhaul of state immigration enforcement, with the latter appearing to satisfy Democrat voters.
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