Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota and Democratic vice-presidential nominee, watches as US Vice President Kamala Harris, not pictured, speaks at Howard University in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. Kamala Harris has called Donald Trump to concede the election to the President-elect, a senior aide to the Vice President told Bloomberg.
Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota is dropping his bid for reelection, he announced Monday morning.
The announcement came as Walz, who was Kamala Harris’ vice presidential pick for her failed 2024 White House bid, continues to weather heated criticism over a sweeping fraud scandal in his state.
“As I reflected on this moment with my family and my team over the holidays, I came to the conclusion that I can’t give a political campaign my all,” Walz said in the statement.
“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,” he said.
“So I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work,” the governor said.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, is weighing a Minnesota gubernatorial bid in light of Walz bowing out, The New York Times reported Monday. Walz and Klobuchar spoke over the weekend, multiple outlets reported.
Walz is set to hold a press conference Monday at 11 a.m. CT.
Walz had announced in September that he would seek a third term in office. But his plans were soon upended by damning reports on the social services fraud scams that have blossomed in Minnesota in the years since the Covid-19 pandemic, while Walz led the state.
A federal prosecutor in Minnesota last month estimated that the fraud schemes may have totaled more than $9 billion, though Walz has called that number “sensationalized.”
This is developing news. Please check back for updates.
