Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), former Vice President Kamala Harris’ operating mate within the 2024 presidential race, has determined to not contest an open U.S. Senate seat in his state in 2026.
“Governor Walz isn’t operating for america Senate,” his spokesperson Teddy Tschann stated in a press release Wednesday. “He loves his job as Governor and he’s exploring the opportunity of one other time period to proceed his work to make Minnesota the very best state within the nation for teenagers.”
Walz has additionally beforehand not dominated out a 2028 presidential run.
The Democratic Senate major within the North Star State is anticipated to be crowded. Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D) entered the race final week, whereas different potential candidates embrace Reps. Angie Craig, the highest Democrat on the Home Agriculture Committee, and Ilhan Omar. Walz has no plans to endorse a candidate within the major.
On the Republican facet, former NBA participant Royce White has declared his intention to run once more after shedding to incumbent Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) in November, as has retired Navy seal Adam Schwarze.
Walz, who rose to nationwide prominence because the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, had beforehand thought of operating for the seat of Sen. Tina Smith (D) who’s not seeking reelection.
“This choice isn’t political, it’s fully private, however it’s not misplaced on me that our nation is in want of robust progressive management proper now, perhaps greater than ever,” Smith stated earlier this month.
Smith’s announcement happened two weeks after fellow Democratic Sen. Gary Peters (Mich.) announced he would retire next year, creating a possibility for Republicans to extend their majority within the Senate. Minnesota, nonetheless, stays a reliably blue state despite the fact that now-President Donald Trump improved on his 2020 efficiency in November’s election.
