Is Governor Tim Walz (DFL) planning to run for the office for a third consecutive term?
"Come on, you're here on WCCO Radio, we want to hear it," asked Vineeta Sawkar on the Morning News Thursday at the Minnesota State Fair.
"I do have a big announcement," said Walz. "The bison meatball sub at Farmers Union is to die for. So go have that one."
Probably not the answer Minnesota was looking for, but Walz yet again kicked that can down the road, saying he's not to the point of making a decision yet. The governor says he's still assessing and taking the temperature of voters.
“To be quite honest, eight years is quite a long bit of time," said Walz.
So when will an announcement be coming? It'll definitely be after the State Fair. Walz told WCCO it's not going to happen until after Labor Day and added that election cycles are already long enough.
"People get tired of that. But look, I don't think anybody has the right to think these jobs belong to them," Walz explained on WCCO Thursday morning. I've had the privilege of serving as a caretaker of the Governor of Minnesota. I'm proud of the work that our administration's done. I think it's time to assess where Minnesotans are at. They'll let you know, and I think in a democracy, the people need to be heard before those decisions are made."
Last year, Walz only spent a couple of hours at the fair in total during a highly choreographed appearance under the protection of the Secret Service as he was in the middle of the presidential campaign, running as the Democrats' choice as Vice President with Kamala Harris. Walz said it was "weird" but he appreciated the opportunity to speak about Minnesota around the country.
Asked if he's interested in pursuing the presidency or another big national office?
"No. If you get a taste of that, you come home as fast as you can," Walz responded. "If there was a consolation prize, that was coming back to Minnesota. No, I think the whole thing for me was, I think the way we do things in Minnesota, and I'm going to give credit, and I think the tragedy we experienced in June with Melissa (Hortman) and Mark's death overshadowed what I think Republicans and Democrats should celebrate."
The governor also discussed the hypothetical of not running for the office again, and Walz says there are a lot of great and talented people the Democrats could consider. But first, he said there's work to be done.
“Before everyone is dancing on my grave, I’m doing this job for the next 18 months, so I will be doing this job for the next year and a half,” noted the governor.
"I think our election process, if they're not so long and they're not so poisoned, it's supposed to be a discussion," he continued. "It should be a discussion."
That discussion is already well underway on the GOP side of the aisle. Three republican challengers have emerged to take on Walz - or whoever the DFL candidate will be - in 2026. They are his 2022 challenger, Dr. Scott Jensen, Kendall Qualls, and as of Wednesday, Maple Grove Rep. Kristin Robbins.