ST. PAUL, Minn. — Capitol chatter has it that Governor Tim Walz may be considering retirement after 20 years of public service and election after election after election. He’s 61. In February Walz said he wouldn’t seek the U.S. Senate seat held by fellow Democrat Tina Smith, who is retiring. In 2024 he won national attention as an energetic, colorful and likeable candidate for vice president. The question then became a possible 2028 presidential run. No, he’s said. Time and again he has delayed a decision on whether to run next November for a third term as governor. Reporters for the Minnesota Tribune, citing background interviews with a dozen aides and others close to Walz, said:
“Walz was knocked off course by the June 14 assassination of Melissa Hortman, who was his close friend and governing partner in the Minnesota House. according to several people with knowledge of his thought process. His reluctance also comes at a time when he could face headwinds if he runs for re-election, after a failed vice-presidential bid that eroded his popularity in parts of the state.”
The StarTrib report, as well as reports by other Capitol reporters, say the smart money right now is that Walz is at 6s and 7s about a third term. If elected, he would be in the governorship until 2030 and age 66. Before Walz was governor, he served six terms in the U.S. House from southern Minnesota.
Earlier: Walz denies any presidential ambitions
Earlier: About a third term, Walz “keeping powder dry”
Earlier: Walz: No on U.S. Senate bid; iffy on third term