Gov. Tim Walz Won't Seek Third Term; Says Future Is Uncertain, May Return To Teaching

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced Monday that he will not seek a third term and said Tuesday he is unsure what lies ahead for his political future. At a news conference, Walz joked that if he steps away from elected office he might return to the classroom: "What I'm really good at is, I'm a really good geography teacher," he said with a laugh.

Before entering Congress and later the governor's office, Walz taught and coached football at Mankato West High School in southern Minnesota. His national profile rose in 2024 after he was chosen as Kamala Harris's running mate; although the ticket lost, Walz emerged as a prominent Democratic figure and a possible future candidate for higher office.

Why He Withdrew

Walz's withdrawal followed criticism over his administration's handling of large-scale fraud in state programs. On Monday he abandoned his bid for a third term as governor, telling reporters he doesn't yet know what his long-term plans will be but that he expects to remain busy in the near term.

Plans For The Near Term

Walz said he plans to run several marathons and defend the title he won in his age group at a Thanksgiving "Turkey Trot." He also said he expects to spend much of the next year confronting what he described as increased federal scrutiny of Minnesota, including a deployment of federal officers into the state.

Gov. Tim Walz speaks during a news conference on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026 at the Coliseum Building in Minneapolis. (Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

"Look, I got a year of work to do here. I think it will be the most challenging year, and that includes probably COVID," Walz said, referencing his role leading Minnesota's pandemic response in 2020. "I caution Minnesotans, this is going to get worse before it gets better. ... For me, I'm going to do this work."

Signature Achievements

Walz pointed to several legislative accomplishments during his tenure, most notably the Jan. 1 launch of a Paid Family And Medical Leave program — approved by the Legislature in 2023 after Democrats controlled the statehouse for two years. In that two-year window, Democratic lawmakers and Walz reversed nearly all Republican-enacted abortion restrictions, protected gender-affirming care for transgender youth, legalized recreational marijuana, expanded free school meals to all students and enacted new gun-safety measures.

Political Outlook

Analysts are divided about Walz's future in elected office. Dan Hofrenning, a political scientist at St. Olaf College, said Walz's decision to exit the race likely signals the end of his elected career: "One never says never on political futures, but two-term governor, vice presidential candidate, that's a pretty good run," Hofrenning said. He suggested Walz could move into an elder-statesman role or be considered for a cabinet post or ambassadorship if Democrats reclaim the White House.

University of Minnesota political scientist Larry Jacobs urged caution about writing Walz off. Jacobs called him a "very talented politician" who may find new opportunities once immediate controversies subside, possibly including a future U.S. Senate run. But Jacobs added that Walz's national exposure as a vice presidential candidate left mixed impressions: "There's a real perception of him as kind of out of his league."

Personal Finances And Next Steps

Walz's governor salary is roughly $127,000 a year. He has listed pension and retirement accounts as his main assets. A Wall Street Journal analysis in 2024 estimated Walz and his wife's net worth at about $800,000; Forbes estimated just over $1 million, calling him "the least wealthy politician on a major party ticket" that year. Analysts say he will likely seek paid work after leaving office, perhaps in the foundation world, academia or public service roles.

Whether Walz seeks another elected office or accepts an appointed role, he has at least one year remaining in the governor's office and says he intends to focus on finishing that term while defending Minnesota's interests.