Sen. Amy Klobuchar announces bid for Minnesota governor
Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced on Thursday her candidacy for governor of Minnesota, citing recent events across the state and the need for strong state leadership.
“These times call for leaders who can stand up and not be rubber stamps of this administration, but who are also willing to find common ground and fix things in our state,” Klobuchar said in an announcement video. “These times call for grit and resilience.”
In her announcement, Klobuchar spoke about recent events in Minnesota, citing the shooting of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and Minnesota Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in June. Klobuchar referenced the ongoing presence of federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis and the recent shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
“Minnesota, we’ve been through a lot,” Klobuchar said.
The official announcement comes one week after Klobuchar filed paperwork with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, signaling her intent to run for governor. Klobuchar’s campaign announcement comes after Governor Tim Walz announced earlier this month that he will not seek reelection.
Klobuchar has served as a Senator since 2007. On Wednesday, Klobuchar spoke on the Senate floor about the ongoing presence of federal officers in Minneapolis and the recent shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, calling for ICE to leave Minnesota and opposing the ICE funding bill.
“I believe we must stand up for what’s right and fix what’s wrong,” Klobuchar said in her campaign announcement. “That’s why today, I’m announcing my candidacy for governor of the state of Minnesota.”
Klobuchar said she is asking Minnesotans to “look up to the North Star and to see that there is a better future before us. To pursue good, we must believe that good will prevail.”
Nearly a dozen Republican candidates are in the race for governor, including Republican Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, Kendall Qualls, Scott Jensen, My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell, and House of Representatives District 23A Peggy Bennett.
Kalli Hawkins January 29, 2026
