Minnesota Governor Tim Walz Ends Re-election Bid Amid Fraud Scandal

Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota on Monday abandoned his bid for re-election to focus on a widening scandal over fraud in social service programs that prosecutors have said grew under his administration. Seventeen months earlier Mr. Walz had drawn national attention as Kamala Harris’s running mate.

After the 2024 election loss, he returned to state problems including a federal criminal investigation that prosecutors say has charged more than 90 people and led to at least 60 convictions for billing the government for services not delivered; the Times reported that the vast majority of defendants are of Somali origin.

Mr. Walz said he had concluded that staying in the race would make it difficult to govern while his administration works to root out the fraud. He said in a statement, "I refuse to spend even one minute of 2026 doing anything other than rising to meet the moment," and later added, "I didn't run for this job so I could have this job." He declined an interview request.

His decision drew contrasting reactions: Democrats called it selfless, while Republicans blamed him for the state of affairs, with Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth saying "fraud in Minnesota has been exploding" under his administration. The governor has taken steps including shutting a homelessness-prevention program, hiring an auditing firm to review 14 high‑risk programs and appointing a former judge to oversee anti‑fraud measures.

Key Topics

Politics, Tim Walz, Minnesota, Social Services Fraud, Federal Investigation, Somali Americans