Ryan Faircloth
Politics and government reporter
Higher EducationFaircloth previously covered higher education and breaking news, contributing to the Star Tribune’s Pulitzer Prize-winning coverage of the police killing of George Floyd. A 2018 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Faircloth started his career covering state politics for the St. Paul Pioneer Press and was named Minnesota’s Young Journalist of the Year by the state Society of Professional Journalists for his reporting at the Capitol. In his spare time, he enjoys practicing boxing and mixed martial arts – sports he once competed in – and searching the Twin Cities for barbecue and tacos that are even half as good as those he had growing up in Houston.
Latest from Ryan Faircloth
Behind Tim Walz’s decision to drop out of the governor’s race
Walz reversed course on his re-election amid a barrage of unfavorable headlines, threats to his family and skepticism from fellow Democrats. But his private doubts about running began earlier.
January 11, 2026
Gov. Tim Walz details decision to drop out of campaign, rails against ‘petty’ Trump administration
Walz said he has no plans to leave office before the end of his term in January, despite calls from some Republicans for him to resign amid fraud concerns.
January 6, 2026
The rapid rise and fall of Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz
Walz’s exit from the governor’s race — and possibly from politics entirely — marked a stunning reversal of fortune and came as he faced unrelenting attacks.
January 6, 2026
Sen. Amy Klobuchar may run for governor
Klobuchar is among several Minnesota Democrats considering a run for governor now that Walz has exited the race. The three-term senator has long been the DFL’s most popular politician statewide, and other Democrats are waiting on her decision.
January 5, 2026
Gov. Tim Walz abandons re-election bid as fraud scrutiny intensifies
Walz said that over the holidays he changed his mind about running again. He talked to U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar ahead of his announcement, and she’s said to be seriously considering the race.
January 5, 2026
Viral video prompts more scrutiny of alleged fraud in Minnesota
The claims of a right-wing influencer are prompting questions about whether fraud has proliferated in a program that was flagged for deficiencies a decade ago.
December 29, 2025
Editor's Pick
Gov. Tim Walz, Democrats tap influencers to spread political message
After Republicans outmaneuvered Democrats online in the 2024 election, Walz and fellow Democrats are trying to build their own network of content creators.
December 28, 2025
Trump says Mike Lindell ‘deserves’ to be Minnesota governor — but it’s not an endorsement
The MyPillow CEO thanked Trump for his words of support but said he did not interpret it as a formal endorsement.
December 22, 2025
Walz says there’s no evidence of $9B in fraud, exposing rift between state and feds
The statements exposed tensions that have been simmering between Walz and Joe Thompson, the federal prosecutor who has led the fraud investigations.
December 19, 2025
Who has early momentum in the GOP race for Minnesota governor?
More than 300 GOP activists signaled their preferences this past weekend, pointing to four candidates who have strong early support.
December 18, 2025
Democrats advance to special elections for Minnesota House seats
Both seats swung heavily in favor of Democrats in the last election.
December 17, 2025
Mike Lindell gives MAGA movement a potent voice in Minnesota governor’s race
Lindell has strong appeal with the party’s right flank, but other Republicans believe he’d doom their chances of defeating Walz.
December 14, 2025
