Ending months of speculation, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan officially announced their 2022 reelection campaign on Tuesday morning.
In a statement, Gov. Walz again used the phrase "One Minnesota" coined during his first gubernatorial campaign.
"As we rebuild, we must continue fighting for all Minnesotans and work to ensure every child in Minnesota receives a world-class education, that there are good-paying jobs in every corner of the state, and that every family has the opportunity to succeed," Walz wrote. "That’s why we’re running for re-election. To keep moving Minnesota forward for everyone and striving towards our vision of One Minnesota.”
Lt. Gov. Flanagan pointed to their "historic investments" in education and the state, while battling the COVID-19 pandemic and economic recovery.
"But our work is just beginning. We are running for re-election to continue to make Minnesota a great place to live for everyone; Black, white, brown, and Indigenous, to strive to be a more equitable state, and to give families like the one I grew up in a fighting chance. We are just getting started," wrote Flanagan.
WCCO Radio political analyst Blois Olson told Susie Jones during the WCCO Radio Morning News that 'One Minnesota' could be one of the biggest hurdles facing Walz and Flanagan into 2022.
"That isn't reality right now. We are not one Minnesota," Olson said. "In fact, it's not even one DFL because you have a very divided DFL that Walz and Flanagan that are going to have to navigate. There's a lot of activists on the left from the Flanagan-wing of the party that do not care for Governor Walz."
On the GOP side, there are currently several candidates who have announced they intend to run. That list includes the former Senate Majority Leader and frequent critic of Walz, Paul Gazelka. State Senator Michelle Benson is also running as is another former State Senator Scott Jensen who has been extremely critical of the governor's handling of COVID.
There are a couple of other Republicans that are lesser known in politics also running. Those include Lexington Mayor Mike Murphy, St. Anthony Dermatologist Neil Shah, and Mike Marti who owns Marti Electric in Kasson, MN.