Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, ranking member of the Senate Ag Committee, is considering a gubernatorial run in Minnesota this year after fellow Democrat and two-term Gov. Tim Walz dropped out of the race Monday, according to multiple reports.
Walz, facing scrutiny over alleged fraud in Minnesota welfare programs, met with Klobuchar on Sunday ahead of his announcement, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter. Spokespeople for Klobuchar didn't immediately respond to requests for comment.
President Donald Trump and other Republicans are hoping to gain politically from claims of fraud in Minnesota aid programs during the tenure of Walz and other Democrats.
A Republican hasn't won statewide office in Minnesota in 20 years, and voters there haven't backed a GOP presidential candidate since 1972. Still, as one of the largest agriculture-producing states, Trump and fellow Republicans have sought to win over more voters, especially in the suburbs and rural areas. About 12 Minnesota Republicans so far are vying to be their party's pick for the gubernatorial election in November, including Mike Lindell, the MyPillow chief executive known for his strong loyalty to Trump.
Klobuchar's potential entry into the race could energize Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor party and complicate GOP efforts. The 65-year-old former state prosecutor first won a U.S. Senate seat in 2006, becoming the first woman to do so in Minnesota. Klobuchar, a 2020 presidential candidate, would bring political heft, fundraising prowess and widespread name recognition to the Minnesota contest. She also could point to a record for pushing farmer-friendly legislation.
"She has great credibility in the agriculture world," said State Senator Aric Putnam, adding that Klobuchar "isn't just the most popular Democrat in the state, she's the most popular politician overall."
Putnam, chair of the Minnesota Senate's Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee, said he thinks it's likely Klobuchar will choose to run for governor.
Klobuchar handily won re-election to the Senate two years ago, defeating Republican challenger and former NBA player Royce White with 56% of the vote. She isn't up for election again until 2030, meaning she could pursue a gubernatorial race without putting her Senate seat at risk. She has a reputation for being tough and often has been viewed as a centrist.
Tim Lindberg, a political science professor at the University of Minnesota, said Walz's talk with Klobuchar may reflect a desire that Minnesota's Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party "focus on winning the governor's race in 2026 over promoting a particularly progressive candidate."
"This maneuver may be an attempt to ward off the kind of division that the party is likely to see in the upcoming battle between Angie Craig and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan for the U.S. Senate position opening up with the retirement of Tina Smith," he said.
Lydia Johnson contributed to this story.
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