Klobuchar Announces Gubernatorial Candidacy in Minnesota
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) made her long-awaited announcement on Thursday, revealing her campaign for governor of Minnesota.
“Minnesota people, we’ve been through a lot,” she shared in an X post that accompanied her announcement video. “This moment calls for grit, resilience, and trust in each other. We need to stand up for what’s right and correct what’s wrong. Today, I’m announcing my candidacy for governor.”
The 65-year-old, who is stepping in after incumbent Tim Walz dropped out amid a major benefits fraud scandal, is expected to be a strong contender in both the Democratic primary and the general election.
Klobuchar’s campaign video highlighted her commitment to “find common ground and fix things in the state,” while criticizing former President Trump’s immigration policies and what she described as “abusive tactics.”
Walz had been leading in opinion polls but ultimately withdrew from the race after facing criticism for alleged state government wrongdoing.
Meanwhile, the Justice Department has launched a criminal investigation into Democratic Governor and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey for potentially obstructing federal immigration enforcement.
Klobuchar had plans to announce her campaign earlier but postponed it due to the shooting death of Alex Preti by an immigration officer in Minneapolis.
She previously ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 but dropped out to endorse Joe Biden.
As a sitting senator, Klobuchar is in her fourth term and will be seeking re-election in 2024 against former NBA player Royce White.
The gubernatorial election in November is shaping up to be a referendum on how Democrats handle welfare fraud that is estimated to have cost taxpayers around $9 billion since 2018.
Walz expressed concerns over state government misconduct and criticized those exploiting the scandal in his withdrawal speech.
This election could also indicate how much Minnesotans want their leaders to challenge Trump’s immigration policies, especially following recent fatalities involving immigration officers and civilians.
Two Minnesotans have faced deadly incidents since the initiation of Operation Metro Surge, which deployed thousands of immigration agents to the Twin Cities.
In her campaign video, Klobuchar reflected on those tragedies, including the murders linked to escalating violence in the state.
Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO, is also running as a Republican candidate, alongside former state Senator Scott Jensen, who previously opposed Walz.
