ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota political landscape was shattered with the announcement by Governor Tim Walz that he was removing himself from 2026 race for goveror.. Walz had been the only Democrat. There had been half a dozen potential and viable candidates for the Democratuc nomination before Septenber, when Walz confirmed he would seek a third term. These others the scrambled for other paths for their political futures, like Walz’s lieutenant governor, Peggy Flanagan, who immediately opened a campaign for the U.S. Senate. So what now for Democrats? The eyes of most political observers turned to Minnesota’s popular four-term U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar. Her electoral record:
2006: Klobuchar defeated Mark Kennedy, a Republican, 58% to 40% (18 points)
2012: Defeated Kurt Bills, a Republican, 65% to 30% (35 points)
2018: Defeated Jim Newberger, a Republican, 60% to 36% (24 points)
2024: Defeated Royce White, a Republican, 56% to 40% (16 points)
The path from the U.S. Senate to the Minnesota governorship has been traveled before. Klobuchar’s 2006 election to the Senate, for example, was to replace Mark Dayton, who later was elected governor. Meanwhile, for 2026 almost a dozen Democrats have announced gubernatorial bids.
Earlier: No GOP shortage of rivals to Walz re-election
Earlier: Walz to seek third term as governor
Klobuchar. A U.S. senator 20 years.All eyes on her as Walz successor 2026 ballot for governor. Her age: 65.