Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has announced that he will not seek Minnesota’s open U.S. Senate seat next year. Instead, he is considering running for a third term as governor. This decision comes after U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, also a Democrat, announced she would not seek reelection in 2026, sparking interest from various political figures to potentially run for the seat.
Among those considering a run for the Senate seat are Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar and Angie Craig, as well as Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon. Governor Walz’s office has stated that he will not endorse any candidate in the Senate primary race.
Democrats face a challenging task in regaining control of the Senate, as Republicans currently hold a majority. Minnesota has traditionally been a Democratic-leaning state, but Republicans have made gains in recent years, with some candidates coming close to winning statewide races in 2022.
On the Republican side, several potential candidates have emerged, including Royce White, a former NBA player, and Adam Schwarze, a retired Navy SEAL. Other potential candidates include sports broadcaster Michele Tafoya and state Senators Karin Housley and Julia Coleman.
It remains to be seen who will ultimately run for the open Senate seat in Minnesota, but the race is expected to attract significant attention and competition from both political parties.
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