Outgoing Minnesota Democrat Governor Tim Walz has already announced that he will not seek re-election for a third term in the North Star State in the aftermath of widespread escalating tensions between ICE officials and protesters and widespread allegations of fraud in the state.
However, in the wake of Walz’s departure, Democrats are already planning his replacement… and it could be worse than Walz.
Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar filed paperwork on Thursday with Minnesota’s Campaign Finance Board to form a campaign committee to run for governor.
BREAKING: MN U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar filed paperwork today to create a campaign committee to run for governor in 2026. A source close to the senator tells me: “This is a preliminary step necessary for any candidate considering a run.” A formal announcement to happen soon. @KSTP pic.twitter.com/p9fCXXoKDQ
— Tom Hauser (@thauserkstp) January 22, 2026
The reported move, which comes just over a year after Klobuchar was re-elected to the US Senate for her fourth term, is a “preliminary step necessary for any candidate considering a run,” a source close to the Kolbucher told Fox News.
“The senator will make an announcement of her plans in the coming days,” the source added.
Despite her Senate seat, Klobuchar move to replace Walz has been in the works for a few weeks.
CNN reported earlier this month that Walz and Klobuchar met privately to discuss a potential candidacy.
Republicans have blasted — and jeered — the potential of Klobucher taking the state’s highest office given her connections to Walz.
“Democrats want to replace him with Senator Amy Klobuchar — a career Washington politician who would bring the same failed, dysfunctional D.C. politics to Minnesota,” state GOP chair Alex Plechash warned in a statement.
“Klobuchar didn’t just stand by during the Walz years — she cheered them on.”
Klobuchar won reelection to her Senate seat in 2024, defeating former NBA player Royce White by more than 15 percentage points.
“My first job out of college was working for Amy Klobuchar,” said Minnesota House Democratic Leader Zack Stephenson.
“She sent me emails at all hours of the night. No one works harder than Amy Klobuchar.”
“If she decides to run,” Stephenson said, “she will be a force to be reckoned with.”
The Minnesota senator would not be up for reelection until 2030 if she stayed in the Senate.
As previously reported by The Horn News, if she runs and wins the governorship, she would create a vacancy in the Senate and, as governor, would have the power to appoint an interim senator to replace herself.
Republican strategist Michael Brodkorb said Democrats he spoke with are thrilled about the possibility of a Klobuchar candidacy.
“I’m hearing from multiple sources tonight that Sen. Amy Klobuchar is ‘very likely’ to run for governor and will announce quickly,” Brodkorb said.
“Democrats I’ve spoken with are thrilled about Klobuchar running, as it unifies and energizes the entire DFL ticket.”