Gov. Tim Walz Expected To Drop Out Of 2026 Minnesota Governor’s Race

ST. PAUL, MN — Gov. Tim Walz is expected to announce Monday that he is dropping out of the 2026 Minnesota governor’s race, according to reporting from Blois Olson.

In a post Sunday night, Olson said sources indicate Walz will make an announcement about his political future on Monday and is "likely to drop out" of the 2026 race.

Olson reported that Walz met privately with U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar on Sunday ahead of the expected announcement.

Meanwhile, political insider Michael Brodkorb said multiple sources told him Klobuchar is "very likely" to run for governor and could announce her decision quickly. Brodkorb added that Democrats he spoke with believe a Klobuchar candidacy would unify and energize the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party ticket.

Walz is scheduled to hold a public media availability at 11 a.m. Monday at the Capitol, according to an official release from the governor’s office. The advisory said Walz will "take questions and discuss news of the day," without specifying the topic.

Walz has faced growing national scrutiny as several multimillion-dollar fraud cases tied to state-administered programs have emerged, including the $300 million Feeding Our Future child nutrition scheme and investigations involving Medicaid.

Patch has been reporting on the Feeding Our Future case since the time charges were first filed in 2022.

Earlier this fall, prosecutors said a Minneapolis woman recruited families to join a fake autism therapy program that prosecutors say defrauded taxpayers out of $14 million.

Late last month, Walz faced renewed criticism after a widely circulated video by conservative social media figure Nick Shirley alleged widespread fraud at Minnesota day care centers.

State officials said the video did not uncover evidence of fraud and that the child care centers featured have continued operating normally under state oversight.