Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz has ended his campaign for a third term, citing a desire to focus on combating fraud in state programs. The decision follows intense scrutiny from President Trump and supporters over alleged mismanagement of benefits fraud cases. Walz made the announcement on Monday after holiday reflections with his family.
Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat first elected in 2018, announced on Monday that he is withdrawing from the race for a third term. In his statement, he emphasized prioritizing efforts to address fraud in Minnesota's social service programs over campaigning. "I have every confidence that if I gave it my all, we would win the race," Walz said. "But as I reflect 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."
The move comes amid heightened criticism from President Trump, who has repeatedly mocked Walz—Kamala Harris's former vice-presidential running mate—and highlighted fraud investigations in Minnesota's benefits systems. Trump posted on Truth Social, without evidence, that Walz was "caught red-handed for stealing tens of billions of taxpayer dollars." No direct allegations have been made against Walz personally; the issues involve contractors and providers in programs like child nutrition.
Federal prosecutors report that billions of dollars were stolen during Walz's tenure, with over 90 individuals charged in felony fraud cases and at least 60 convicted. A prominent example is a COVID-era child nutrition scandal where contractors allegedly stole $250 million; the ringleader was a white woman, and many defendants were of Somali origin. Trump has targeted Minnesota's Somali community, accusing them of fraud and making derogatory remarks about U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar. A recent viral video showed a MAGA-linked influencer confronting Somali American day care centers in Minneapolis, demanding to see children amid unsubstantiated claims.
Walz defended his administration's handling of these scandals and accused Republicans of political exploitation. The controversy has national repercussions: the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services froze some federal child care funding last week, affecting low-income families nationwide. Similar probes are underway in states like Ohio and Texas, where Republican leaders have ordered audits despite defenses from figures like Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.
In the gubernatorial race, Republicans including House Speaker Lisa Demuth and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell have declared their candidacies. On the Democratic side, Senator Amy Klobuchar, reelected in 2024 after four prior wins, is considering a run.
