Amy Klobuchar enters Minnesota governor’s race, calls for 'grit and resilience' amid ICE protests

ST PAUL, MINNESOTA: Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar announced on Thursday, January 29, that she is running for governor of Minnesota, entering the race after Gov Tim Walz decided not to seek a third term.

The announcement comes at a turbulent moment for the state, which has been thrust into national focus amid an aggressive federal immigration enforcement surge and two fatal shootings involving federal agents.

Klobuchar, a four-term senator, said her campaign will focus on restoring stability while addressing rising costs and public safety concerns. Her entry is expected to significantly reshape Minnesota’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 elections.

Klobuchar enters race as Minnesota faces unrest

Klobuchar made her announcement in a video posted on X, framing her candidacy as a response to the current political and social climate in the state. “I believe we must stand up for what’s right, and fix what’s wrong. That’s why today I’m announcing my candidacy for governor of the state of Minnesota,” she said.

Klobuchar cited the rising cost of living, health care affordability, and immigration enforcement as central issues. “And I’m running for every Minnesotan who wants ICE and its abusive tactics out of the state we love,” she said.

Her decision follows Gov Walz’s January 5 announcement that he would not seek re-election, a move that came amid heightened scrutiny over Minnesota’s handling of alleged child care fraud tied to pandemic-era food programs. Walz said he did not want his re-election bid to distract from the ongoing investigation.

Klobuchar promises to fix things in the state 

Since Walz’s decision, Minnesota has experienced a series of high-profile and deadly incidents. Two days after his announcement, a 37-year-old woman, Renee Good, was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis. Weeks later, a Border Patrol agent shot and killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse, with bystander video contradicting the Trump administration’s account of the encounter. The shootings triggered protests and widespread criticism of federal immigration operations in the state.

In the video message Klobuchar said, “Minnesota, we’ve been through a lot,”, referencing the deaths of Good and Pretti, as well as other acts of violence in recent years. “These times call for leaders who can stand up and not be rubber stamps for this administration, but who are also willing to find common ground and fix things in our state.” She added, “These times call for grit and resilience.”

Broader political implications and crowded GOP field

Klobuchar’s entry is expected to largely clear the Democratic field. No other major Democratic candidates have announced campaigns since Walz’s exit, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison previously said he would not run.

If elected, Klobuchar would leave a Senate seat vacant mid-term. Klobuchar, first elected to the Senate in 2006 after serving as Hennepin County attorney, has won all four of her Senate races by wide margins. She also ran for president in 2020, placing fifth in the Iowa caucuses and third in New Hampshire before dropping out.

On the Republican side, candidates include former state senator Scott Jensen, state House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Rep Kristin Robbins, businessman Kendall Qualls, and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell. Minnesota has not elected a Republican governor in nearly two decades. The race will unfold alongside a competitive Democratic primary to replace Senator Tina Smith, who is not seeking re-election, further heightening the political stakes in the state.