Socialites, here’s some shocking Monday news: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he’s officially pulling the plug on his re-election campaign, saying he won’t seek a third term as the state’s top executive.
Of course it’s a move that caught folks off guard especially since Walz had only recently said he was gearing up for another run and was widely expected to coast to victory.
In a statement released by his office, Walz pointed to the growing noise around fraud allegations in Minnesota and the way partisan politics have turned the volume all the way up. As he put it, “the political gamesmanship we’re seeing from Republicans is only making that fight harder to win.”
“But as I reflected on this moment with my family and my team over the holidays, I came to the conclusion that I can’t give a political campaign my all,” he said. “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.”
“So I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work,” Walz said.
Translation: the governor says the moment is too serious for campaign distractions.
RELATED:Tim Walz Says He Was ‘Surprised’ After Losing Election: ‘Thought The Country Was Ready’
Walz’s departure comes as Republicans continue to intensify their criticism around the state’s handling of fraud allegations, keeping the issue front and center. Whether that pressure ultimately reshapes Minnesota’s political future remains to be seen—but one thing’s clear: the race just got a lot more unpredictable.
Minnesota’s political chessboard has officially been flipped. Now everyone’s waiting to see who makes the next move.