MITCHELL, SD (Mitchell Now) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said he will not seek reelection in 2026, ending plans to run for a third term, but said he will not resign from office.
Walz has faced mounting criticism over his administration’s handling of alleged fraud in Minnesota-run programs. In December, a federal prosecutor said half or more of roughly $18 billion in federal funds supporting 14 Minnesota-run programs since 2018 may have been stolen, while Walz and other state officials disputed the scope of the estimate.
When asked about calls to step down, Walz responded: “I’m not going anywhere, and you can make all your requests for me to resign over my dead body.”
Walz also told reporters he expects Democrats to remain competitive, saying he is “very confident a Democrat’s gonna win this” as the party looks toward the November 2026 governor’s election.