Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced Tuesday that he will run for a third term, saying he still has unfinished work to do for the state. Walz, who last year served as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee, launched his re-election campaign with a message of resilience and unity.
“We’ve made historic progress in our state, but we’re not done yet,” he said in a social media post. In a campaign video, Walz promised to continue protecting Minnesotans from what he called “the chaos, corruption, and cruelty coming out of Washington.”
The 61-year-old governor reflected on the challenges the state has faced, particularly the pain of losing lives to gun violence. “I’m heartbroken and angry about the beautiful people we lost,” Walz said. “But it’s in these moments we have to come together. We can’t lose hope because I’ve seen what we can do when we work together.”
Walz, a former high school teacher, coach, and congressman, has been at the center of national attention since being tapped as Kamala Harris’s running mate in the 2024 presidential race. Though Harris and Walz ultimately lost after Donald Trump swept key battleground states, Walz’s role elevated his profile nationwide. Since then, he has not shied away from criticizing Trump and his running mate, Vice President JD Vance, describing the Republican ticket as “just weird.”
Walz has also faced controversies. He was heavily criticized earlier this year after comparing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to Nazi Germany’s Gestapo. Republican lawmakers condemned the remarks during a congressional hearing, but Walz refused to apologize. His record as governor has also drawn scrutiny, particularly his response to the violent protests following George Floyd’s murder in 2020. In addition, critics have questioned his military service record, saying he overstated his rank and left the National Guard just before his unit was deployed to Iraq.
Still, Walz remains a significant figure in Minnesota politics. He was first elected governor in 2018 with an 11-point margin and won re-election in 2022 by eight points. His victories showed strong Democratic support across the state, but his 2026 campaign will test history. No Minnesota governor has won a third consecutive term since the state adopted four-year terms in the 1960s.
Walz has made it clear that his focus is on Minnesota, not national office. Although he is often mentioned as a possible Democratic presidential contender in 2028, he told Axios earlier this year that if he ran for re-election as governor, he would not pursue the White House.
Republicans are already lining up to challenge him. Among them are Kendall Qualls, a business executive and Army veteran, and Scott Jensen, a physician and former state senator who was the GOP’s 2022 gubernatorial nominee. Both are expected to campaign aggressively to unseat Walz, who Republicans consider vulnerable despite his past electoral wins.
Walz’s campaign emphasizes his belief in progress through cooperation and resilience. His message leans heavily on his personal style as a teacher and coach, where teamwork and determination are central themes. As he seeks an unprecedented third term, Walz is betting that Minnesotans will trust his leadership once again to guide the state through uncertain times.
