Tim Walz Drops Out of 2026 Race Amid Massive $19Bn Minnesota Fraud Scandal

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced he is stepping aside from the 2026 gubernatorial race as the state grapples with a massive fraud scandal. Walz accused President Donald Trump and Republican allies of exploiting the crisis for political gain, while arguing that election-year politics would distract from efforts to hold criminals accountable. Saying he could not balance a campaign with governing during a crisis, Walz said he will focus his remaining time in office on combating fraud and cooperating with federal investigators.