In a statement released Monday, January 5, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced he is abandoning his bid for another gubernatorial term. Walz launched his unprecedented third-term reelection campaign in September, but since then, the state has been engulfed by a massive fraud scandal involving misappropriated COVID assistance and apparently fake daycare facilities and health clinics that have been the recipients of huge amounts of tax dollars from the Minnesota government.
“In September, I announced that I would run for a historic third term as Minnesota’s Governor. And I have every confidence that, if I gave it my all, I would succeed in that effort,” the statement read. “But as I reflected on this moment with my family and my team over the holidays, I came to the conclusion that I can’t give a political campaign my all.” The announcement went on, “Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences.”
