Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday formally announced he will seek a third term in 2026, ending months of public uncertainty about his political future after his defeat last year as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee.
In a video posted by his campaign, the two-term governor, 61, declared “We’re not done yet” while driving a vintage Harvester International Scout and outlined priorities that include stricter gun control, tax relief for the middle class and measures to improve health-care affordability. Walz framed the bid as a continuation of work he began in the state and said he had no plans to run for president in 2028 if he seeks another term as governor.
Walz had delayed formally launching a re-election campaign earlier in the summer after a wave of violent incidents in Minnesota, including the murder of former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. In his announcement, Walz said he was “heartbroken and angry” about the losses and urged unity while pressing for tougher gun-safety measures.
Minnesota does not impose gubernatorial term limits, but voters have infrequently returned governors to more than two consecutive terms. The last governor to serve three consecutive terms was Orville Freeman in the 1950s, when terms were two years; Walz would be the first to win three consecutive four-year terms in state history if re-elected.
Walz’s national profile rose after he joined Sen. Kamala Harris on the Democratic ticket in 2024 and lost to President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance. Since the election, he has held town halls across the country and has been a frequent critic of the Republican White House. He told Politico that Democrats “shouldn’t have been playing this thing so safe” in the 2024 campaign.
His post-election prominence has also brought scrutiny. In May, Walz compared U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to the Gestapo, a remark that drew bipartisan criticism; he declined to apologize. He also suggested Democrats should be “meaner” and “bully” Trump, comments that fed discussion about his tone and strategy.
Local and national media reported questions about the accuracy of some personal anecdotes Walz has told, including suggestions of combat experience and accounts of being present during historic events overseas. During a debate last fall against then-Vice President Vance, Walz acknowledged personal mistakes, saying, “I’m a knucklehead at times.” He has also faced criticism over his handling of the protests and unrest in Minnesota following the killing of George Floyd in 2020.
Republicans are organizing a competitive primary for the 2026 governor’s race. Potential GOP challengers who have emerged publicly include Army veteran Kendall Qualls, former state Sen. Scott Jensen and state Rep. Kristin Robbins. The Republican Party has not won a statewide race in Minnesota since former Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s victory in 2006.
Walz framed his decision to run again as a response to recent violence and ongoing policy challenges in Minnesota, saying he had seen communities help one another through hard times and that the state needed continued focus on opportunity across urban, suburban and rural areas. He begins his campaign with elevated name recognition from the 2024 national ticket and enters a political landscape where both his record in office and his conduct on the national stage are likely to be central themes in the 2026 campaign.