Governor Tim Walz Looks To Make A Political Comeback

Former Vice President candidate Governor Tim Walz is considering a run for Senate next year.

Walz’s consideration comes as Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced her retirement on Thursday.

As Walz has not announced he’s officially running, his Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan has announced she will.

Flanagan, in a post on X, wrote, “I love Minnesota, and my intention is to run for the United States Senate and continue to serve the people of this state. I’ll make a formal announcement later this month.”

🚨 SCOOP: Tim Walz’s team leaked to Politico that he’s interested in the U.S. Senate seat—this story is 100% legit.

Peggy Flanagan and Walz have been sparring behind the scenes for a while, and his team is furious that she’s flexing her muscles by definitively announcing her run… pic.twitter.com/11BiyGEIdr

— Dustin Grage (@GrageDustin) February 13, 2025

Here’s what Politico reported:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is considering a run for Senate next year, according to a person close to the governor who was granted anonymity to describe internal deliberations.

His consideration of the seat comes after Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced her retirement from the blue-leaning battleground on Thursday. Walz, the former vice presidential nominee, could also run for reelection as governor in 2026.

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Already on Thursday, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan kicked off a bid with a post on social media: “I love Minnesota and my intention is to run for United States Senate and continue to serve the people of this state. I’ll make a formal announcement later this month.”

Progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) didn’t rule out a run, either. “Congresswoman Omar will be talking with Minnesotans about the future of the Senate seat and DFL party in Minnesota,” a spokesperson said.

Smith, who has served in the Senate since 2018, said in a video announcing her decision that “after 20 years of hard and rewarding work in the public sector, I’m ready to spend more time with my family.”

“We’re more than ready to take up the mantle of this seat, and all that will have to get worked out,” Smith told reporters at the Capitol on Thursday, adding that she wanted to announce her decision with enough time for others in the state to decide whether to run.

JUST IN: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz considering a run for Senate next year after Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced her retirement – POLITICO pic.twitter.com/KyqWRh6ll5

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) February 13, 2025

Per USA Today:

Former Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, is exploring running in 2026 for the U.S. Senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., a source close to Walz said.

His consideration of a Senate bid follows Smith’s announcement Thursday that she will not seek a second term for a seat she’s held since winning a special election in 2018.

Walz, whose second term for governor ends in 2027, is also considering running in 2026 for a third gubernatorial term, the source said. Minnesota does not have term limits for governor.