Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is celebrating the launch of the state's new paid family and medical leave program on Tuesday, but also took questions about dropping out of the 2026 race on Monday.
Walz made that announcement Monday reading a seven minute statement without taking questions. But Tuesday, he answered questions and did so with an angry and defiant tone, taking special aim at President Donald Trump and Republicans who he says refuse to push back against Mr. Trump.
The president has shared a conspiracy theory regarding the shooting death of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband last summer. That drew particular ire from Walz.
"We just attended a wedding which was a joyous day with two empty seats from someone who's murdered," said Walz Tuesday. "But 'there's rumors out there.' That's frickin' evil. And everyone of you in this room knows it's evil."
The governor responded intensely to questions about resigning as well, saying "over my dead body."
"I'm not going anywhere, and you can make all your requests for me to resign over my dead body," he said. "Will that happen?"
Walz says with no campaign to run, and plenty of energy, he's up for the challenges in 2026 which includes another tightly divided legislature and senate, plus a budget year during the session.
Again, Walz responded to Republicans in the state.
"Expect for the next 11 months for me to ride you like you've never been ridden, to make sure that you're doing your job," said Walz.
When he was asked about not running, Walz says his "family and legacy" are the only reasons for dropping out of the 2026 governor's race, and gave no credit to the pressure from the Trump administration or heat from in-state Republicans for stepping aside. Instead, he framed his exit as a personal choice made with his family.
"I love this state with every fiber of my being," Walz explained. "I believe we are the best state. Have I been perfect in this? God dang no. I wasn't perfect as a teacher, I wasn't perfect as a coach. I wasn't perfect as a soldier. But I was pretty damn good at those things. And I am committed to getting this right."
Those same Republicans have been hammering Walz after more fraud allegations, including up to $9 billion in fraud from the state's Medicaid programs laid out late last year by the U.S. Attorney's office. Walz bristled and fired back against his former Republican opponents.
"And I will tell you what, if they think now, I mean game's over for 'em now," Walz said about Republicans. "It was all me. I was the bad guy or whatever. Well put up or shut up now and tell us what you're going to do to make this state better."
The governor went so far as to say First U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson, when laying out those possible fraud numbers in December, was spreading misinformation.
"You saw a US attorney stand up, which has been released, would have been let go by any other administration, speculating about things with no factual information," Walz said Tuesday. "That's defamation, and that's coming from the U.S. attorney. We are under assault."
Walz says Republicans are holding information about potential fraud. He wants that information made public and will work to that end.
"The buck stops with me," he added. "I'm accountable for this, and because of that accountability, I'm not running for office again, but I have a year to continue to improve on a record that I think will stand up against anybody's. A record that has made Minnesota better."
The governor directly challenged Republican critics by taking full credit for the state's "top-tier rankings" in social programs and asserting that his departure allows the state’s progress to remain the primary focus through the end of his term.
As far as what's next, after his term ends in a year?
"I'm gonna run some more marathons. I'm gonna defend my Turkey Trot title. I don't know if I told you all that, that I won my age group in the turkey trot."
Walz also hinted at teaching again, saying he found joy in teaching geography.