Amid Immigration Turmoil, Senator Amy Klobuchar Announces To Run For Minnesota Governor

Last Updated:January 29, 2026, 22:14 IST

Amy Klobuchar announces her run for Minnesota governor after Tim Walz exits, citing the need for leadership amid shootings by ICE agents and tensions with the Trump administration.

US Senator Amy Klobuchar announced her decision to run for the gubernatorial role after current governor Tim Walz ended his bid for reelection on January 5. (Klobuchar/X)

US senator and one-time presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar has announced she will run for governor of Minnesota.

“I believe we must stand up for what’s right and fix what’s wrong," Klobuchar said in a video message announcing her run. “That’s why today, I am announcing my candidacy for governor of the state of Minnesota."

She further said that her home state is in need of a leader who could “fix things in our state" and who would “stand up and not be rubber stamps" to the Trump administration. “I like my job in the Senate," she added. “But I love our state more than any job."

The announcement comes as Minnesota reels under Operation Metro Surge of Trump administration which saw two people being shot dead.

Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse, was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents over the weekend. The incident marked the second fatal shooting involving federal officers in the state in less than a month, following the death of mother-of-three Renée Good.

According to The Hill, Trump administration officials, including Homan and Attorney General Pam Bondi, have urged local officials to comply with requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to help detain migrants without legal status in the area.

Also Read: ‘Playing With Fire’: Trump Slams Minneapolis Mayor For Refusing To Enforce Immigration Laws

Democratic Senator Klobuchar had been vocal against the Trump administration, especially on the recent shootings of protesters by federal agents in Minneapolis.

“We cannot sugarcoat how hard this is, but in these moments of enormous difficulty, we find strength in our Minnesota values of hard work, freedom, and simple decency and good will," Klobuchar said in the video message released on Thursday.

Also Read: ‘Very Sad Situation’: Trump On Second Minnesota Shooting, Says ‘You Can’t Walk In With Guns’

She added, “These times call for leaders who can stand up and not be rubber stamps of this administration. But who are also willing to find common ground and fix things in our state."

She announced her decision to run for the gubernatorial role after current governor Tim Walz ended his bid for reelection on January 5.

ABC News quoted Walz, who served as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in 2024, saying as he bowed out that he would not be able to give a campaign all of his attention as he worked to defend Minnesota against allegations of fraud and right-wing attacks – including from President Donald Trump.

He is under investigation over allegations of fraud by child-care centers in Minnesota.

News world Amid Immigration Turmoil, Senator Amy Klobuchar Announces To Run For Minnesota Governor

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