Minneapolis: Tim Walz, the governor of the US upper Midwest state of Minnesota, announced on Monday that he will not pursue a third term, citing a clash with US President Donald Trump and allegations of fraud within the state. "I've decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work," Walz declared in a statement.
According to Anadolu Agency - English, Walz had previously announced in September his intention to run for a third term, expressing confidence in his chances of success. However, he concluded that he could not fully commit to a political campaign. "Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can't spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences," Walz stated.
Walz expressed no regret over his decision to forgo the race, emphasizing, "I didn't run for this job so I could have this job. I ran for this job so I could do this job." He also criticized Trump and his allies, accusing them of attempting to make Minnesota "a colder, meaner place." Walz particularly pointed out Trump's actions, stating, "We've got the president of the United States demonizing our Somali neighbors and wrongly confiscating childcare funding that Minnesotans rely on."
The controversy escalated when Trump accused Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar of being involved in the theft of taxpayer dollars alongside members of the Somali community. Trump claimed on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Walz was "caught, redhanded" and suggested that the governor might leave office before his term concludes. He further compared Walz unfavorably to other Democratic governors, alleging that figures like California's Gavin Newsom, Illinois' JB Pritzker, and New York's Kathy Hochul have performed even more dishonestly.
Walz, who has served as the 41st governor of Minnesota since 2019, faces allegations of fraudulent practices at certain childcare centers following an unverified video on social media. This led to a temporary freeze on state payments, which was later extended nationwide. Minnesota officials have dismissed these allegations, affirming that the facilities mentioned in the video have been inspected and comply with state regulations.
The governor, also the Democratic nominee for vice president in the 2024 election, criticized the federal response as politicizing the issue and undermining family support programs, amidst his frequent targeting by Trump. The next gubernatorial elections in Minnesota are scheduled for August 11.