Amy Klobuchar Enters Minnesota Governor Race, Targets ICE
Klobuchar filed paperwork and announced her bid Jan. 22, 2026, pledging to oppose federal immigration enforcement and unify the state.
Overview
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar filed campaign paperwork and announced her gubernatorial bid in a video posted Jan. 22, 2026, pledging to oust federal immigration enforcement tactics in Minnesota, her campaign said.
Her entry follows Gov. Tim Walz's Jan. 5, 2026, withdrawal amid scrutiny of alleged fraud in state child care programs, a development that reshaped the 2026 governor's contest, records show.
Klobuchar criticized Operation Metro Surge and the deployment of about 3,000 federal immigration agents, saying in the Jan. 22 video that the presence 'makes us less safe,' according to her campaign.
Republican candidates already running include Mike Lindell, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, Dr. Scott Jensen and state Rep. Kristin Robbins, making the race potentially competitive across party lines, party filings show.
Klobuchar has more than four years left on her Senate term and is widely viewed as the Democratic front-runner for the Nov. 3, 2026, general election, and she is not expected to immediately resign her Senate seat, analysts said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Klobuchar’s bid as a response to state turmoil, foregrounding the federal immigration crackdown, two agent-involved killings, and Walz’s abrupt exit to cast her as an experienced stabilizer. Editorial choices—sensational descriptors, placement of crisis details, and curated quotes—create urgency while still including GOP criticisms as countervailing source content.
Sources (22)
FAQ
Tim Walz withdrew his reelection bid on January 5, 2026, amid scrutiny and a swirling fraud scandal involving state child care programs, though he has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
Operation Metro Surge is an ICE operation that deployed about 3,000 federal immigration agents to Minnesota since December 1, 2025, resulting in fatal shootings of Renee Good on January 7 and Alex Pretti on January 24; Klobuchar opposes it, stating it 'makes us less safe' and has urged deescalation.
Key Republican candidates include Mike Lindell (MyPillow CEO), Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, former state Sen. Dr. Scott Jensen, state Rep. Kristin Robbins, and Army veteran Kendall Qualls.
Klobuchar has more than four years left in her fourth Senate term and is not expected to immediately resign if she runs for governor in the November 3, 2026 election.
Klobuchar pledged to oppose federal immigration enforcement, root out fraud in state government by ensuring those who steal taxpayer money go to jail, and work bipartisanship with leaders from both parties.
History
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