> At a Glance
> – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced Monday he will not seek a third term in 2026.
> – His exit follows viral fraud claims and a Trump-posted conspiracy tying him to a lawmaker’s murder.
> – The Hortman family pleaded with Trump to delete the post, calling it “false.”
> – Why it matters: The state’s top Democrat is stepping away under twin clouds of federal fraud scrutiny and disinformation, reshaping the 2026 race.
Minnesota’s Democratic governor is bowing out. Tim Walz, 61, said intensifying fraud investigations and a toxic swirl of online lies made a 2026 campaign untenable.
The Fraud Scandal That Sealed the Decision
Federal prosecutors have charged 98 people with stealing from Minnesota-run social-service programs since 2018. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson told reporters last month that up to $4.5 billion of the $9 billion total may have been lost to fraud.
- Feeding Our Future case alone involved $250 million allegedly stolen from a child-nutrition nonprofit.
- A viral video by right-wing influencer Nick Shirley last month prompted HHS to freeze all federal child-care payments to the state.
Walz insists “an organized group of political actors” is exploiting the crisis. Still, he concluded: “Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota.”
A Murder, a Meme, and a Family’s Plea
One day before Walz’s exit, the children of slain state Rep. Melissa Hortman asked President Trump to delete a Truth Social repost promoting a conspiracy that Walz orchestrated their mother’s assassination.
Colin and Sophia Hortman issued separate statements Sunday:
> “The video being shared by the president is another hurdle our family must overcome,” Sophia said. “Please… take down the post.”
Colin added:
> “Apologize… for posting this misinformation and for using my mother’s own words to dishonor her memory.”
Walz called Trump’s amplification “dangerous, depraved behavior.”
Key Takeaways
- Walz becomes the first Minnesota governor in two decades to forgo a third-term bid.
- The fraud probe has already yielded 98 charges, mostly against Somali-American defendants.
- The Hortman family’s plea highlights the human toll of political disinformation.
With Walz on the sidelines, Minnesota Democrats must now find a new standard-bearer for 2026.
