The announcement by Governor Tim Walz (D) that he won't run for an open Senate seat in the state has reinvigorated a stalled field, bringing several prominent candidates into the picture to at least consider running.
Walz is in his second term as governor and said he would consider running for a third term in 2026 rather than looking to fill the Senate seat that will be vacated by Tina Smith (D) at the end of her term, as he had been considering.
Walz's national profile as (failed) vice presidential running mate to former Vice President Kamala Harris made him all but a shoo-in if he did try to run, which kept most others from jumping in.
Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) is perhaps the most prominent name weighing a run for the seat. The top Democrat on the Agriculture Committee in the House, she is also a strong fundraiser.
“I started making calls yesterday looking for feedback on what they are looking for in terms of a representative to the Senate for the state of Minnesota,” Craig said. “Tim Walz has been such a great friend, and I wanted to respect the fact that he was taking a look at this seat over the last couple of weeks.”
“I want to be very purposeful about this,” she added. “I've got a great job here in the House. I love my district and the people in it, but I also absolutely love the people of Minnesota, and so we'll see where all that lands in the coming weeks.”
Despite the fact that his Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan had already thrown her hat in the ring, Walz said he would not make an endorsement in the race.
“At this point in time, I don't want to have my thumb on the scale in any way, and I don't not so certain people care necessarily where you think on that,” he said. “I just know we've got a deep bench. We’ve got good folks.”
Politico said his refusal to endorse could be looked at as a snub to Flanagan.
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar are other Democrats who could get into the race now that it has opened up. Omar, who also has a national profile, is popular in her district but may be less so at the statewide level.
Furthermore, both Ellison and Omar are quite anti-Israel, which could get the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) to spend a lot of money campaigning against them.
Dave Wellstone, the son of late Senator Paul Wellstone, is also considering a run. The elder Wellstone died in a plane crash in 2002.
Two Republicans--Royce White and retired Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze--have so far announced their intentions to run for the seat.
White was the party's nominee in 2024.
