Minnesota Governor Tim Walz made headlines this week after announcing he’s running for a third term in 2026. The announcement came just months after he and Kamala Harris lost their bid for the White House in the 2024 election. A video of Walz driving around in a vintage Scout SUV went viral as he declared, “We’re not done yet.”
That catchy line has sparked a lot of talk. Some say Walz is setting himself up for a future presidential run. Others believe he’s trying to clean up his image after a rocky couple of years. So what’s the real story behind this announcement? Let’s dig in and separate fact from fiction.
First, let’s look at what Walz is actually doing. He’s running for governor again, not president. Minnesota doesn’t have term limits for governors, but no one has ever been elected to three straight terms. If he wins, Walz would make state history.
So why is he making this move now? According to Walz, it’s about continuing what he calls “historic progress.” He says he wants to keep pushing for policies like stricter gun control, tax cuts for the middle class, and more affordable health care. He also says he wants to make sure people in every corner of Minnesota have a fair shot at success.
But there’s more behind the timing of his announcement. Originally, Walz was expected to launch his campaign earlier this summer. He delayed that plan after a terrible tragedy shocked Minnesota—a former State House Speaker, Melissa Hortman, and her husband were murdered, and State Senator John Hoffman and his wife were shot. Walz said he was heartbroken and angry over the violence, and he didn’t want a campaign launch to distract from that grief.
Let’s also talk about his national spotlight. After losing the 2024 election as Kamala Harris’s running mate, Walz stayed active on the political scene. He’s been traveling around the country, holding town halls, and criticizing the current Republican-led White House. Some people see this as a sign he’s still keeping one eye on national politics, maybe even 2028.
But Walz told Axios he won’t run for president if he’s running for governor again. That’s a clear statement, though political promises can change. For now, his focus seems to be Minnesota.
Still, there are voters who haven’t forgotten his decisions during past crises. Walz faced heavy criticism for how he handled the violent riots in Minneapolis after George Floyd’s death in 2020. Many in the state—and across the country—felt he didn’t do enough to stop the destruction and protect businesses. That’s a major issue his opponents are sure to bring up.
And speaking of opponents, Walz is not going to have an easy ride. Several Republicans are already gearing up to challenge him. These include Army veteran Kendall Qualls, former State Senator Scott Jensen, and current State Representative Kristin Robbins. While Minnesota hasn’t elected a Republican governor since 2006, the political mood has shifted in recent years, and the GOP sees an opening.
So, is Tim Walz just looking to finish what he started in Minnesota, or is this part of a bigger plan for national politics? For now, he says it’s all about serving the people of his state. But after a failed run for vice president, and with a growing national presence, it’s clear Walz is still a major player to watch.
The bottom line: Yes, Walz is running for a third term as Minnesota’s governor. No, he’s not running for president—at least not yet. His decision follows months of speculation, personal regret over the 2024 campaign, and a tragic event that rocked his state. Now, he faces a tough campaign ahead in a state that hasn’t elected a governor for three straight terms before. Whether he wins or not, this race will say a lot about where Minnesota—and maybe the Democratic Party—is heading next.