“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.”
Despite projecting confidence in his ability to win, Walz acknowledged that recent events forced him to reconsider his priorities.
“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. 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.”
The governor went on to announce his withdrawal from the race, framing it as a selfless decision made in the interest of governance rather than politics.
“So I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work.”
Walz insisted that his decision came without regret or disappointment, emphasizing that he views the role of governor as a duty rather than a career milestone.
“I know this news may come as a surprise. But I’m passing on the race with zero sadness and zero regret. After all, I didn’t run for this job so I could have this job. I ran for this job so I could do this job.”
He closed his statement by stressing the importance of putting Minnesota first amid what he described as a pivotal moment for the state.
“Minnesota faces an enormous challenge this year. And I refuse to spend even one minute of 2026 doing anything other than rising to meet the moment. Minnesota has to come first – always.”
While Walz did not explicitly reference the Somali fraud scandal in his statement, the timing of his announcement has fueled widespread speculation that the growing controversy played a central role in his decision. The scandal, which involves alleged large-scale fraud tied to Somali-run daycare centers, has become increasingly difficult for state leaders to ignore.
Axios reports that Walz’s exit immediately opens the door for several high-profile Democrats to enter the race.
From Axios:
“Who jumps in the race for the DFL nomination, and how it reshapes the contours of the race.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon are all seen as possible candidates.”
The Gateway Pundit’s Kristinn Taylor previously reported that Walz was expected to announce his withdrawal during a scheduled Monday press conference. Walz’s office confirmed he would address the media at 11 a.m. CST, a move that signaled a major political development was imminent.
At the center of the controversy is an explosive investigation by independent journalist Nick Shirley, who uncovered what he described as widespread fraud involving Minnesota childcare centers linked to the Somali community. According to prior reporting by The Gateway Pundit, Shirley’s investigation revealed millions of dollars in alleged fraud tied to daycare facilities that appeared to exist largely on paper.
Shirley shared multiple clips from his investigation on X, including footage showing a supposed childcare facility claiming to serve over 100 children that appeared nearly empty. In one clip, Shirley is seen being shut out as he attempted to question staff about the discrepancies.
The full scope of the investigation was laid out in a 42-minute video released by Shirley, in which he made a jaw-dropping claim:
“We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day.”
🚨 Here is the full 42 minutes of my crew and I exposing Minnesota fraud, this might be my most important work yet. We uncovered over $110,000,000 in ONE day. Like it and share it around like wildfire! Its time to hold these corrupt politicians and fraudsters accountable
As the scandal continues to unfold, Walz’s sudden decision to abandon his reelection bid has only intensified calls for deeper investigations and greater accountability. For many Minnesotans, the governor’s exit is not just a political shift—it is a sign that the consequences of systemic failure may finally be catching up with those in power.
Whether Walz’s departure marks the end of the story or merely the beginning remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: Minnesota’s political landscape has been permanently altered.
