Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday announced that he would seek re-election to a third term in 2026.
“I want to make Minnesota a place where everyone has a chance to succeed, in every corner of the state,” Walz said in an announcement video.
Minnesota is among a handful of states permitting their incumbent governors to serve more than two terms. In 2026, Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate in 2024, is pursuing a third term, alongside Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, also a Democrat.
Several Republicans have already announced their bids, such as state Representative Kristin Robbins and Scott Jensen, who was the GOP’s gubernatorial nominee in 2022.
Walz was re-elected to a second term four years ago, beating Jensen by more than 7 percentage points.
Two years afterward, then-Vice President Kamala Harris, with Walz as her running mate, secured victory in Minnesota during the 2024 presidential election, albeit with a narrow lead of just over 4 percentage points.
Minnesota has trended slightly more in favor of Democrats in recent years, though it has long had a reputation as a swing state.
Walz gained national attention last year as Harris’ vice-presidential choice, entering the race in August after then-President Joe Biden ceased his re-election efforts in July.
Since the campaign’s conclusion, there has been buzz about Walz potentially running for the presidency in 2028, with many Democrats anticipated to vie for the role.
This spring, Walz began visiting key early Democratic primary states like Iowa and South Carolina, while offering his insights on why Democrats faced defeat in 2024.
Back home, Walz has had to deal with two high-profile violent incidents in Minnesota this year.
In June, state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot and state Sen. John Hoffman was shot and injured in what Walz at the time called “politically motivated” attacks against the Democratic legislators.
And just last month, two students at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis died were shot and killed and several others were injured after a suspect opened fire during the school’s Catholic mass.
In his announcement video, Walz said of his state, “I’ve seen how we help each other through the hard times, and boy, we’ve seen terrible times this year. I’m heartbroken and angry about the beautiful people we lost to gun violence. But it’s in these moments that we have to come together.”
Walz earlier this month called for a special session in the Minnesota state legislature, during which he hopes to pass a package of gun control legislation.
The governor’s announcement on Tuesday coincided with the date of a special legislative election to fill Hortman’s vacant seat in the state legislature.
Walz, who worked closely with Hortman, referred to her following her death earlier this year as a “great leader” and a “formidable public servant,” who served with “grace, compassion, and tirelessness.”
