Amy Klobuchar officially launched her campaign for Minnesota governor on Jan. 29 after filing paperwork a week earlier but delaying the announcement following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti during an ICE-related disturbance. Klobuchar criticized a large federal ICE presence in the state, vowed to push back against abusive tactics, and pledged to fight abuse, fraud and to improve healthcare. The unrest has drawn national attention, prompted rare Republican criticism, and contributed to at least one GOP candidate dropping out of the race.
Klobuchar Enters Minnesota Governor Race Amid ICE Crackdown and Deadly Protests
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) speaks during a press conference with fellow Democratic senators calling on the Trump administration to continue Medicare drug price negotiations on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 22, 2025. REUTERS/Jon Cherry. REUTERS/Jon Cherry
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 (Reuters) — Democratic U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar on Thursday formally launched her campaign for governor of Minnesota as the state reels from a federal immigration enforcement operation that preceded the deaths of two protesters this month.
Klobuchar, a four-term senator, said she had filed the necessary paperwork a week earlier to seek the office being vacated by retiring Democratic Governor Tim Walz, but delayed her public announcement after immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, an incident that sparked widespread outrage and prompted personnel changes in the Trump administration.
Klobuchar's Message
In a campaign video posted on X, Klobuchar criticized the scale and tactics of the federal operation and framed her run as a response to the unrest. She said the state needed leaders who could both challenge the federal approach and work to find common ground to address local problems.
"3,000 ICE agents on our streets and in our towns sent by an administration that relishes division," Klobuchar said. "I'm running for every Minnesotan who wants ICE and its abusive tactics out of the state we love."
Klobuchar also cited the killing of Renee Good earlier this month. Both Good and Pretti, each 37, were protesting ICE tactics in Minneapolis when they were shot. She referenced additional violent incidents tied to the unrest, including the assassination of one state lawmaker, the shooting of another, and a shooting at a Minneapolis church during Mass attended by Catholic school children.
Political Fallout
The turmoil over immigration enforcement has placed Minnesota under intense national and international scrutiny and has even prompted unusually public criticism from some Republican figures ahead of November congressional elections. Republican attorney Chris Madel dropped his bid for governor this week, saying national Republican actions had made it "nearly impossible for a Republican to win a statewide election in Minnesota."
Walz, who earlier this month announced he would not seek a third term, said on Wednesday he would never again pursue elective office, calling himself "a lightning rod" for political enemies.
Policy Priorities
Beyond immigration, Klobuchar said she would prioritize combating abuse and fraud, expanding access to quality health care, and protecting federal funding for state programs, including childcare centers that have faced challenges threatening federal support.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina Chiacu)
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