Governor Tim Walz Announces Whether He Will Seek Reelection

It appears Governor Tim Walz’s eyes are not on the presidency.

Democrat Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has announced he will be running for Governor for the third time.

Minnesota does not have term limits for the Governor.

Gov. Tim Walz typically treats the Minnesota State Fair like his personal Super Bowl — trying new foods (this year the Uncrustaburger), touting one of his favorite rides (the Ye Old Mill) and making the rounds at TV and radio station booths for softball interviews.

Walz’s State Fair interviews this year centered around one question: Will you run for reelection? The governor was coy and reserved. He said he was taking his time assessing what was best for Minnesotans. Also, he said, the June death of his friend and close governing ally Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman weighed on him and delayed his reelection announcement.

“This one about broke me,” Walz told WCCO at the fair on Aug. 24, referring to Hortman’s death.

Nine days later, Walz was speaking in front of Deerwood Elementary School in Eagan. This time, he seemed more determined and animated, promising he was going to make Minnesota safer for children by pushing for gun control measures like a ban on so-called assault weapons.

What happened in those nine days? Yet another crisis that Walz had to manage, this time the killing of two children and wounding of 21 others in the Church of the Annunciation mass shooting.

The second-term DFL governor announced Tuesday that he’ll seek a third term, launching a campaign that will require him to convince Minnesotans that he’s been a steadying hand in the face of the multiple crises that have enveloped the state in recent years, including a once-in-a-century pandemic, civil unrest after the police murder of George Floyd, emerging fiscal instability and shocking political violence.

“We’re not done yet. And that’s why I’m running for reelection. I want to make Minnesota a place where everyone has a chance to succeed — in every corner of the state,” Walz said in his campaign launch video.

Watch Tim Walz here:

I’m running for reelection to continue serving as Governor of Minnesota.

We’ve made historic progress in our state, but we’re not done yet. I’m staying in the fight — and I need you with me. pic.twitter.com/NsVCXfq4M2

— Tim Walz (@Tim_Walz) September 16, 2025

Axios previously reported Walz would shut down any presidential run if he were to run for governor for a third term:

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he won’t run for president in 2028 if he seeks a third term as governor next year.

While Walz has dismissed the idea of a White House bid in recent sit-downs, a series of high-profile speaking engagements in early-voting states and a March interview with the New Yorker have fueled speculation that the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee might run for national office again.

What he’s saying: When asked by Axios in an interview Tuesday whether he’ll fully rule it out if he runs for governor again, Walz answered “yes.”

“I’ve always viewed public service as being … if you run for this, you serve your term up,” he says.

Walz hasn’t announced his 2026 plans, though speeches and bullish remarks to reporters about the race have suggested he’ll seek an unprecedented third consecutive term.