Minnesota Minute: Governor Walz Will Not Seek Reelection

January 5, 2026

Minnesota Governor Walz Will Not Seek Reelection

Big news out of Minnesota today as two-term Governor Tim Walz announced he will not seek reelection. This development comes after a tough few months for Walz, who originally had announced his intention to seek a third term back in September. 

Local and national Republicans, including President Trump, have been heavily critical of Walz and the lack oversight of state dollars that were misused by a handful of nonprofit groups tied to the Somali community. Despite efforts by the Walz Administration to wrangle in the fraudulent network, public support for the Governor had waned in the recent weeks and many Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) groups and activists began to express lack of confidence in a third Walz term. 

We anticipate a handful of Democrats will announce gubernatorial campaigns, with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar being the biggest name. Klobuchar, who is viewed as the political juggernaut in Minnesota, has access to a broad network of donors and would likely get early support from labor unions and party activists. Other big names could include current Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon. Walz’s Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan is currently running for the open U.S. Senate seat and is unlikely to abandon that effort to run for Governor. 

Several Republicans have already announced their campaigns for Governor, most notably House Speaker Lisa Demuth, State Representative Kristin Robbins, and MyPillow founder and Trump ally Mike Lindell. 

The full press release from Governor Walz can be found here.

About Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies

Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.

Explore Articles and News

See All News