Minnesota does not have a law limiting term limits. Unlike say, the President of the United States who is limited to two terms in office, a Minnesota Governor could continue to serve term after term after term as long as they're winning elections.
That's what current Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) is pondering as we head towards another election in 2026 - and so far, signs point to Walz running for a third term. He hasn't made a formal announcement yet, but recently told the Minnesota Star Tribune that if he runs, he expects to win.
How rare is that a governor runs for a third term in Minnesota? Only two times a governor that served two terms ran for a third, and both of those came after being out of office between terms.
In 1978, Democrat Rudy Perpich lost to Republican challenger Al Quie after serving one term. He then ran again in 1982, winning the office for a second time, and then won again in 1986 becoming the state's only three-time governor.
Republican Tim Pawlenty served two consecutive terms after being elected in 2002 and 2006. He was succeeded by Democrat Mark Dayton. Pawlenty did not seek a third term in 2010. But, he did come back and run again in 2018 seeking his third term.
Pawlenty was eliminated in the Republican Primary. Former State Rep. and Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson ran on the Republican side and ended up losing to Walz.
Pawlenty, by the way, is the last Republican to win a statewide election in Minnesota back in 2006.
Walz would be seeking three consecutive terms, a first in the state.
There's well over a year remaining until Minnesotans head to the ballot box again and they may be faced with an historical choice - do they want to make state history and elect Minnesota's first three-consecutive term governor?
If you're curious about what state had the longest run with one governor, you don't have to look too far from Minnesota. Iowa Republican Governor Terry Branstad served 24 nonconsecutive years which is the longest in U.S. history. That's six full terms. Branstad won four straight elections between 1982 and 1994, then two more in 2010 and 2014.
A Walz victory will be more challenging this time
If Walz is going to run, it may not be a smooth run to a third term. He won relatively easy the first two times, defeating Johnson and then former State Senator, Dr. Scott Jensen.
But after an unsuccessful run at the Vice President on the Democrat ticket with Kamala Harris, things in Minnesota have gotten a little tighter for the Democrat. His run at a national office didn't necessarily sit well with Minnesotans according to approval polls. Axios political reporter Torey Van Oot talked to WCCO's Adam and Jordana and says this would be a tighter race according to the numbers.
"He won by healthy enough margins the last two times," says Van Oot. "But the polling that we have, the most recent polling, does not suggest he's got a cakewalk ahead. You know, voters are split and his approval rating has dropped to just under 50%."
WCCO political analyst Blois Olson puts the odds pretty high that Walz is running.
"I put at 80, 85%, I think it was likely the last few months, he's held a couple of fundraisers, he's indicated it," Olson says. "So I think as long as he feels he can win, I don't know why he wouldn't run. Until he knows that somebody could really give him a run for his money, he's going to run."
Also split? Whether or not voters even want a governor for a third term.
"I think it's within the margin of error or just outside of it, but slightly more say he should not run and he should step down than want him to run again," Van Oot adds. "So you know, it's not going to be necessarily an easy race for him, but he's certainly sounding like he's going to run."
Another question about Walz in a third term is that pursuit of a national profile. As Van Oot pointed out, Walz spent quite a bit of time campaigning outside the state in 2024, and during the 2025 legislative session was traveling around the country doing podcasts, national media appearances, and hosting town halls in other states. If he wins a third term, what is Walz planning to do in 2028, halfway through the term?
"The press and voters will be asking him, well, if we elect you in again? Will you serve a whole four years? So that's going to be something to navigate," Van Oot adds.
As for an announcement, it could come any day now. Walz has gone on record saying that he expected to make a decision after the legislative session, which did last until June after the special session. He then added it would be some time in July. Walz also acknowledged that the political assassination of House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, and the attempted assassination of State Senator John Hoffman, could change his timing.
Olson says he believes an announcement would come prior to the Minnesota State Fair.
So far, the Republican competition is pretty quiet. Only Kendal Qualls has declared on the GOP side. Qualls, a 61-year old former business executive has led conservative advocacy groups and sought the GOP nomination for governor in 2022.