Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Tuesday formally launched a campaign for a third term, saying he is "not done yet" and vowing to continue fighting what he called "chaos, corruption, and cruelty coming out of Washington." The announcement sets up a high-profile contest in a closely watched Midwestern state ahead of the 2026 elections.
Walz, a Democrat who served as the party's vice presidential nominee in 2024, published a campaign video and social media message in which he urged Minnesota voters to build on what he described as "historic progress" in the state. "I’ve seen how we help each other through the hard times," he said in the video. "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 we have to come together. We can’t lose hope because I’ve seen what we can do when we work together."
Walz used the launch to criticize former President Donald Trump and the current Republican ticket, saying he would "never stop fighting to protect us" from the national leadership he described as harmful. The state remains politically competitive: Walz won the governor's office in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022, but no Minnesota governor has won a third consecutive term since the state adopted four-year terms in the 1960s.
Republican prospects for the 2026 gubernatorial contest are already taking shape. Former business executive and Army veteran Kendall Qualls and physician and former state Sen. Scott Jensen, who was the GOP nominee in 2022, are among those running for the Republican nomination.
Walz's national profile rose sharply after he was selected as the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2024 and served three months as the running mate to then-presidential nominee Kamala Harris. That exposure brought new scrutiny to his record, including actions as governor and his prior service in Congress and the National Guard. Walz has said he would not seek the presidency in 2028 if he runs for re-election in 2026.
His tenure has drawn criticism from Republicans and opponents over several controversies. Earlier this year, Walz compared Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to the Gestapo, comments that drew rebukes from congressional Republicans and for which he declined to apologize. He has also faced questions over his military record, including allegations that he exaggerated his rank in the Minnesota National Guard and left his unit before it deployed to Iraq when he ran for Congress.
Walz framed his campaign as a defense of Minnesotans against national-level policies and rhetoric, saying in his launch remarks that the state must come together to address issues including gun violence and economic stability. The political landscape he now navigates is shaped by the 2024 presidential outcome: Trump regained the White House after winning the seven key battleground states, a shift that has altered dynamics for state and federal campaigns.
The governor's announcement comes amid a broader swirl of state and national political contests that will test party strength in the Midwest in 2026. Walz's campaign will need to balance local policy priorities with answers to questions raised during his brief run on the national ticket and his record as an elected official. He is expected to begin building an early campaign infrastructure and fundraising operation as he seeks to secure a third consecutive term.
Walz was first elected governor in 2018 by an 11-point margin and won re-election in 2022 by eight points. If he secures the Democratic nomination and wins in 2026, he would break a decades-long pattern in Minnesota politics. For now, the campaign promises to be competitive and closely followed by both parties as they jockey for advantage in the Upper Midwest.