Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a key figure in the unsuccessful Harris-Walz 2024 presidential campaign, may be eyeing a future in Washington, according to a new report.
Walz is reportedly considering a Senate bid in 2026 following Democratic Sen. Tina Smith’s announcement that she will not seek re-election, Politico reported, citing an unnamed source.
Alternatively, Walz could opt for a third term as Minnesota governor in 2026, as USA Today noted, as Minnesota has no term limits for its governors.
If Walz enters the race, he is expected to face competition, Politico reported.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan hinted on social media that she intends to run for the seat, with a formal announcement forthcoming. Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar has not ruled out a potential bid.
“Congresswoman Omar will be talking with Minnesotans about the future of the Senate seat and DFL party in Minnesota,” a representative for her said.
Democratic Reps. Angie Craig and Kelly Morrison, along with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, are also being considered as potential candidates.
Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, who heads the GOP’s Senate campaign efforts, cautioned that Democrats should not assume the seat is safely in their column, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“Minnesota is in play, and we play to win,” he said. “Minnesotans deserve a senator who will fight for lower taxes, economic opportunity, and safer communities.”
Some political observers believe that Walz’s challenging 2024 campaign, during which he frequently exaggerated his military and political record, will be a significant burden in 2026.
“The average Minnesotans didn’t really know who Tim Walz was,” retired Minnesota State Patrol Lt. John Nagel told Fox News Digital.
“With running for vice president, people suddenly realized this guy is not who so many of us thought he was. He’s not this happy grandpa teacher that wears plaid. He is an individual that wants to keep his power. He’s lied to make himself look better,” Nagel said.
“Walz’s ego is bruised,” Nagel added. “He is not happy that he’s not walking around as vice president.”
Republican state Sen. Mark Koran opined: “I think Minnesotans should reject his political agenda, just as the nation did. He came back extraordinarily damaged.
“The Democrats are going to take him out within his own party, likely in the next gubernatorial primary. There’s a Senate seat open in Minnesota. He wants the national spotlight. At the end of the day, if he has nothing else, I think he’ll be running for governor again,” he said.
Last month, Walz didn’t get the results he may have expected when he attempted to troll then-President-elect Donald Trump’s decision to move his inauguration indoors due to a forecast of extremely cold weather for Washington, D.C.
In response to the announcement, Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate took to social media to post a photo of himself giving a speech outdoors during a snowstorm — presumably in his home state.
“There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing,” Walz wrote in his post.
Walz appeared to be sending the message that he can handle inclement weather much better than Trump, despite the Trump transition team’s concerns not for the president-elect but for the tens of thousands of Americans who planned to attend the event.
Several users responded to Walz’s attempted troll with reminders that Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance handily defeated him and Harris.
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