'Never again': Tim Walz says he will not seek elected office after current term

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: Gov. Tim Walz said in an interview with MS NOW on Wednesday, January 28, that his career as an elected official will permanently end when he completes his current term.

Speaking candidly in a media interview, Walz said he has decided not only to step away from the governor’s race but to leave electoral politics altogether. His remarks mark a definitive turning point after years of state and national political prominence.

Tim Walz announces the end of his career in elected politics

Walz said that once his term as Minnesota’s governor ends, he will not seek elected office again, stating, “I will never run for an elected office again. Never again.”

Walz, who was the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, had earlier announced that he would not seek re-election as governor. At the time, however, he had not ruled out the possibility of pursuing another elected position in the future.

Tim Walz on ordinary community leaders

In explaining his final decision, Walz pointed to recent events unfolding in Minneapolis involving residents and federal officers. Walz also acknowledged personal challenges with the Trump administration, saying, “Look, I recognize that I'm a lightning rod. And this is a tough, it's a tough space for I'm in because I know they hate me personally. And they take it out on my constituents.”

He said that what stood out to him were ordinary people stepping forward in moments of crisis. Walz described them as “heroes on the streets that we don’t know their names,” emphasizing that many of those individuals would never run for office themselves.

He said those community leaders helped force action from the Trump administration and demonstrated that public service can take many forms beyond holding elected positions. “So there’s other ways to serve, and I’ll find them,” Walz said.

Tim Walz on tensions with Trump administration over childcare fraud allegations

Walz’s earlier announcement that he would not seek a third term as governor came during a period of heightened scrutiny surrounding Minnesota’s handling of alleged child care fraud. The decision also followed months after Walz had publicly stated that he wanted to run again.

Roughly 18 months earlier, Walz entered the national spotlight when Vice President Kamala Harris selected him as her running mate in the 2024 election. Even before that campaign, Walz had said he was considering a future presidential run, though he noted he would rule out a 2028 bid if he pursued re-election as governor. 

In choosing not to run again, Walz cited what he described as “political gamesmanship” by Republicans. He said that defending his own political interests would take time away from protecting Minnesotans, particularly from “the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences.”

Harris praised Walz’s decision at the time, saying it reflected his “selfless commitment to the people he serves.” Walz’s latest announcement followed the fatal shooting of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal officers in Minneapolis.

The incident prompted sharp criticism of the Trump administration from Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and other Democrats. Around the same time, the Justice Department issued subpoenas to Walz, Frey, and other state leaders as part of an investigation into whether Minnesota officials conspired to impede federal immigration enforcement.

Despite tensions, President Donald Trump and Walz spoke by phone Monday, signaling what may be an easing of strain between federal, state, and local leaders.