A Unique Moment for Minnesota: Democrats Urge Klobuchar to Run for Governor After Walz Withdrawal

Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota’s longest-serving statewide elected official, is being encouraged by Democratic leaders to enter the 2026 gubernatorial race after Gov. Tim Walz withdrew amid a federal probe into a pandemic-era welfare fraud scheme.

Why Democrats Want Klobuchar

Party strategists point to Klobuchar’s consistent statewide success as proof of broad appeal across Minnesota. She significantly outpolled Vice President Kamala Harris in Minnesota in 2024 by more than 130,000 votes, and the narrowest of her four Senate victories was by 16 points. Democrats say that name recognition and a record of decisive wins could provide the stability and turnout boost needed to protect vulnerable legislative seats statewide.

Political Context and Stakes

Minnesota’s political environment has grown more competitive: Democrats hold the state Senate by a single seat and the state House is evenly split, among the closest legislative margins in the country. President Donald Trump also narrowed Democrats’ statewide advantage in 2024, trimming their margin by roughly three percentage points.

Opportunities and Risks for Klobuchar

A gubernatorial run would present a different test than federal races. While Klobuchar’s approval ratings remain sturdier than some statewide figures, her margins have tightened compared with earlier landslides. Observers also warn a governor’s race could reopen scrutiny of long-running complaints about staff turnover and the fallout from her recent presidential campaign — lines of attack her opponents already revisited during her last Senate re-election.

"She has the ability to come in and save our state," said Bill Harper, a Minnesota Democratic strategist, highlighting expectations that Klobuchar at the top of the ticket would energize down-ballot candidates.

State Sen. Grant Hauschild called a Klobuchar bid a "best-case scenario," arguing her presence on the ticket could help Democrats expand their majorities and perform better in Greater Minnesota.

Walz’s Withdrawal and Wider Fallout

Walz stepped aside amid heightened attention on a welfare fraud scandal that prosecutors say involved dozens of people charged with stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from a Covid-era program intended to help feed children. Walz has not been accused of personal wrongdoing; he said the investigation and related politics would distract him from addressing the problem and serving Minnesotans.

Party operatives described Walz’s departure as a "big sigh of relief" for legislators and candidates who worried about the scandal’s impact on swing voters. A person close to the governor said he could have fought to win re-election but lacked the appetite for a bruising campaign after a series of traumatic events and pressures this year.

Broader Implications

If Klobuchar runs and wins, Minnesota could see a rapid reshuffling of top Democratic leaders — a new governor and significant turnover among U.S. senators representing the state. Klobuchar would also be departing a high-ranking role in Senate Democratic leadership, surrendering seniority and influence in Washington should she leave the upper chamber.

Supporters argue that amid federal gridlock, strong state leadership matters. "The federal government is broken," said Minnesota House Majority Leader Zack Stephenson, "and state government can still work." Many Democrats say this is a unique moment for Minnesota’s Democratic Party, with an experienced statewide figure positioned to stabilize the ticket and help contested legislative races.

Next steps: Klobuchar has not made a public decision. People close to her say she is seriously considering a run but weighing how a gubernatorial campaign would affect any future national ambitions.