U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has filed the initial paperwork to run for Minnesota governor, laying the groundwork for a bid to replace Gov. Tim Walz.
The move comes several weeks after Walz announced he was dropping out of his bid for a third term amid a mounting Medicaid fraud crisis. Democrats across Minnesota quickly coalesced around Klobuchar to step up to run, viewing her as the strongest DFLer who could hold the seat.
A person close to the senator said the filing is a preliminary step necessary for any candidate considering a run. “The senator will make an announcement of her plans in the coming days,” they said.
Some had anticipated she would quickly make a decision after Walz’s Jan. 5 announcement, but two days later Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, which has let to weeks of tense interactions between protesters and immigration enforcement officials.
With the focus on how to tackle fraud in Minnesota, some Democrats said Klobuchar’s experience as Hennepin County attorney will help in the crackdown on social services fraud, though she could also face skepticism on her prosecutorial record from progressive Democrats. Republicans have made fraud the centerpiece of their 2026 campaigns and will try to tie her and other Democrats to the issue.
Other possible big name DFL gubernatorial contenders, including Secretary of State Steve Simon and Attorney General Keith Ellison, have chosen not to run for governor, clearing the way for Klobuchar to run.
Last summer, as Walz was undecided on whether he would run for an unprecedented third term, many Minnesota Democrats believed Klobuchar would step up if Walz decided not to seek re-election.
Walz announced he would seek a third term in September but dropped out after the holidays as criticism grew over the fraud crisis. He invited Klobuchar to the governor’s residence and they discussed the possibility of her running in his place.
