Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ends reelection bid amid child-care fraud scandal

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, introduced Monday that he would drop his bid for reelection as governor, saying that he wouldn’t be capable to give a marketing campaign all of his consideration as he works to defend Minnesota towards allegations of fraud and right-wing assaults — together with from President Donald Trump.

“In September, I introduced that I’d run for a historic third time period as Minnesota’s Governor. And I’ve each confidence that, if I gave it my all, I’d achieve that effort,” Walz wrote in an announcement Monday.

“However as I mirrored on this second with my household and my group over the vacations, I got here to the conclusion that I can not give a political marketing campaign my all. Each minute I spend defending my very own political pursuits can be a minute I can not spend defending the individuals of Minnesota towards the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our variations.”

Walz, who served as Vice President Kamala Harris’ operating mate in 2024, had come underneath hearth in latest weeks amid allegations of fraud in child-care facilities in Minnesota. Walz had stated the state was investigating alleged fraud and slammed how rhetoric focusing on the state’s Somali group in regards to the allegations might put individuals in danger.

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar met with Walz over the weekend a couple of attainable bid for governor, in line with two sources aware of the assembly.

This comes as a supply near Klobuchar tells ABC Information that she’s been getting a variety of outreach encouraging her to run. She is contemplating the bid, in line with two sources, however hasn’t made a remaining choice.

Representatives for Klobuchar, who gained reelection to the Senate in 2024, didn’t instantly reply to ABC Information’ requests for remark.

Walz was the topic of Trump’s frequent criticism — with the president claiming he was “a Crooked Governor” in a latest social media publish.

The president commented on Walz’s choice in a social media publish on Monday, saying Walz “destroyed the State of Minnesota.”

Walz would have made historical past if he gained the governorship in 2026, as beforehand no Minnesota governor has gained a third consecutive four-year time period.

The Democratic Governors Affiliation, the arm of the Democratic Get together targeted on electing Democratic governors, launched an announcement on Monday praising Walz for his work with out endorsing every other potential candidates. 

“Regardless of who decides to run or how a lot nationwide Republicans need to spend, the DGA stays very assured Minnesotans will elect one other sturdy Democratic governor this November,” DGA chair and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear wrote in an announcement. 

On the Republican aspect, longtime Trump loyalist and CEO of MyPillow Mike Lindell introduced in December that he’s operating for governor of Minnesota. Lindell has already been endorsed by Trump.

Walz additionally has been seen as a possible 2028 presidential hopeful, and visited a couple of key presidential battleground states in 2025, though he has beforehand downplayed the prospect of operating for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Walz, in his assertion saying he wouldn’t search reelection, had harsh phrases for Trump and Republicans who’ve excoriated the state for alleged child-care fraud and stated that it occurred on Walz’s watch.

“I will not mince phrases right here,” Walz wrote. “Donald Trump and his allies — in Washington, in St. Paul, and on-line — need to make our state a colder, meaner place.”

Saying that the state authorities had taken steps to research fraud, and continues to work on combating it, Walz stated Minnesota “will win the combat towards the fraudsters. However the political gamesmanship we’re seeing from Republicans is barely making that combat tougher to win.”

Republicans celebrated Walz’s announcement on Monday. Home Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Republican representing Minnesota, wrote in a brief assertion reacting to Walz’s announcement, “Good riddance.”

“It’s been failure after failure for Tim Walz, so it’s no shock he chickened out of operating for re-election,” Republican Nationwide Committee Regional Communications Director Delanie Bomar wrote in a separate assertion on Monday.

Minnesota has been underneath scrutiny in latest weeks over yearslong investigations and controversies about alleged fraud in child-care facilities. 

Based on federal costs filed over the previous couple of years, a minimum of 70 individuals had been a part of a wide-ranging prison conspiracy that exploited two federally funded diet packages to fraudulently acquire greater than $250 million in one of many largest COVID-era fraud schemes wherever within the nation.

The defendants allegedly used a Minnesota-based nonprofit group referred to as Feeding Our Future to keep away from robust scrutiny from the Minnesota Division of Schooling, which was imagined to be conducting oversight of the packages.

Extra scrutiny got here lately after an unverified on-line video from conservative influencer Nick Shirley alleging fraud in youngster care in Somali communities in Minneapolis. Minnesota officers have disputed the allegations. Throughout more moderen website checks, officers stated places highlighted by the video had been working as anticipated.

Final week, an official with the Division of Well being and Human Companies stated that the Trump administration is pausing child-care funding to all states after the Minnesota allegations emerged. The official stated the funds shall be launched “solely when states show they’re being spent legitimately.”

“Republicans are enjoying politics with the way forward for our state,” Walz stated in his assertion on Monday. “And it is shameful.”

ABC Information’ Laura Romero and Mike Levine contributed to this report.