Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) announced on Tuesday that he will seek a third term as Minnesota governor.
In a video announcing his campaign, Walz touted measures enacted during his time in office, including a paid family leave program and a child tax credit.
“But we’re not done yet, and that’s why I’m running for reelection. I want to make Minnesota a place where everyone has a chance to succeed, in every corner of the state,” Walz said.
Minnesota is one of the few states that allows incumbent governors to run for a third term. Gov. JB Pritzker (D-IL) also recently announced a campaign for a third term.
Walz was reelected in 2022 against Republican state lawmaker Scott Jensen by over seven points. He was elected by an 11-point margin in the 2018 election. He also served in the House for six terms, representing a southern Minnesota district.
Several Republican candidates have launched their campaigns, including Republican state Rep. Kristin Robbins and Jensen. Walz is not expected to face a significant primary challenge.
Walz rose to national prominence when he was tapped by former Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic vice presidential nominee in the 2024 general election. Since the end of that campaign, some have speculated he could launch a presidential campaign, as he has traveled across the Midwest to offer his analysis about Democrats’ losses in the 2024 election.
Walz has overseen many pivotal moments for his state, including the 2020 police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the COVID-19 pandemic. He has also worked with a divided government during his tenure at the Capitol.
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More recently, Walz has dealt with two high-profile violent incidents: the murder of Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, the attempted murder of a state senator and his wife, and a school shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis in which two students were fatally shot and several were severely injured.
“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 said in his announcement video.