Tim Walz Expected to Drop Reelection Bid
Tim Walz Expected to Drop Reelection Bid
The News
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is expected to bow out of the 2026 re-election race as he faces mounting national criticism over a massive Somali fraud scandal engulfing his state.
The news comes as Walz’s office has scheduled a press conference for 11 a.m. Monday.
His office did not comment on what the failed vice presidential candidate plans to address, KARE 11 reported.
Walz has come under national scrutiny — including from President Trump — over his handling of alleged Medicaid and day care fraud in Minnesota, with losses that could reach into the multibillions.
Timeline
The scrutiny intensified after independent journalist Nick Shirley released viral footage last month showing taxpayer-funded day care centers in Minnesota that appeared largely empty.
Reactions
“He’s likely to drop out of the 2026 #mngov race,” Minnesota political analyst Blois Olson posted on X Sunday night.
Republicans are blasting Minnesota Democrats over the fraud scandal, accusing them of failing to prevent billions in taxpayer losses, as a Florida lawmaker compared the alleged scheme to “organized crime.”
Trump himself suggested the alleged fraud in Minnesota could be even larger than investigators believe while speaking to a crowd at a New Year’s Eve celebration at Mar-a-Lago.
“Can you imagine, they stole $18 billion,” Trump said.
State Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove), chairwoman of the Minnesota Fraud Committee and a GOP gubernatorial candidate, told The Post she alerted the Walz administration to her concerns after holding a hearing on day care fraud in February 2024 — but said her warnings were ignored.
“I gave the Department of Human Services a list of day care providers getting over $1 million in the previous year from the state who had numerous violations, and this day care was one of them on the list,” Robbins said outside the Quality Learning Center facility.
“They can’t say they didn’t know. We had a hearing on it. We gave them a list, and nothing has happened,” she added.
“I find it shocking that this is still happening when we flagged something over and over again.”
What's Next
The Trump administration has said it plans to freeze certain federal child care funds until states provide additional verification for the programs.
The House Oversight Committee is expected to hold multiple hearings on the alleged scandal in the coming weeks.
More
Federal authorities have since launched an operation in the Land of 10,000 Lakes aimed at “identifying, arresting, and removing criminals who are defrauding the American people,” according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Olson told Fox 9 that US Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), whom he said Walz met with Sunday, is a likely contender to replace the governor in the race.
Charleston White Arrested Again on Florida Battery Charge
Border Patrol Rescues MS NOW Crew in Desert
Sep 13, 2026
Supreme Court Restores Missouri's Old House Map
Sep 13, 2026
Alaska Drops Felony Voter Charges Against Samoans
Sep 13, 2026
Trespasser Breaches Harris' Malibu Estate; No Arrest
Sep 12, 2026
Hegseth Pressed Downed Airmen Into 60 Minutes
Sep 12, 2026
Houthis Seize Mokha, Choking Saudi Oil Exports
Sep 12, 2026
Altman Rules Out OpenAI IPO This Year
Sep 12, 2026
Jury Acquits Lil Durk in Murder-for-Hire Case
Sep 12, 2026
Judge: Trump Broke Law Halving FEMA Staff
Sep 12, 2026
Maher Calls Democrats' Gaza Genocide Claim a Lie
Sep 12, 2026
Blizzard Revives StarCraft, Sends Diablo to Netflix
Sep 12, 2026
Trump's Queens Childhood Home Sells for $1.93M
Sep 12, 2026
Scientists Find New Virus in Tick Invading US
Sep 12, 2026
Britain Bans Settlement Imports; US States Threaten Payback
Sep 12, 2026
Prison Fire Kills 7 as Kurds Protest Killing
Sep 12, 2026
Kosovo Rallies for Ex-President Before Hague Verdict
Sep 12, 2026
Cruz Booed at GameDay Over College Sports Bill
Sep 12, 2026
Blast Hits Bulgarian Arms Plant Supplying Ukraine
Sep 12, 2026
DOJ Loses Nearly Every Protester Assault Trial
Sep 12, 2026
Sep 13, 2026