Who is Amy Klobuchar? Democratic Senator mulling to enter Minnesota race as Walz drops bid for third term over fraud probe

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Democrats' 2024 candidate for vice president, is ending his bid for a third term amid President Donald Trump’s relentless focus on a fraud investigation into the state's child care programs and its Somali community. Walz’s exit has opened up the contest in a Democratic-leaning state. Democrats hold 24 of 50 governor’s seats nationwide, with 36 seats, including Minnesota’s, on the ballot this year.

Less than four months after announcing his reelection campaign, Walz said Monday that negative attention and Republican attacks have contributed to an "extraordinarily difficult year for our state," making it impossible for him to serve full-time as governor while also being a candidate to keep his job.

“Every minute that I spend defending my own political interest would be a minute I can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who want to prey on our differences," Walz said at the state capitol, as quoted by news agency AP. "So I’ve decided to step out of this race, and I’ll let others worry about the election while I focus on the work that’s in front of me for the next year.”

Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar likely to enter the Minnesota race

With Walz out of the race, speculations are rife that Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar is considering entering the Minnesota race, a person close to her told AP.

A source close to Klobuchar also told ABC 6 affiliate KSTP, “In the event Governor Walz decides not to run,” she will likely run for governor. The source further told the outlet that she is “getting outreach from people encouraging her to run and is seriously considering it.”

A person, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly and spoke to AP on the condition of anonymity, said the senator, who ran for president in 2020, has not made a final decision. In a post on X, Klobuchar praised Walz as “a true public servant” who made a “difficult decision” but said nothing about her own pending choice.

Who is Amy Klobuchar?

Amy Klobuchar was elected as a Democrat to the US Senate in 2006 and began representing Minnesota in 2007. Born on May 25, 1960, in Plymouth, Minnesota, US, Klobuchar grew up in a suburb of Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota.

She was the first woman to be elected to serve the state in that body. In 2024 Klobuchar bagged an easy victory and won reelection against Republican challenger Royce White and two other candidates. Her father, Jim, was a columnist for the Star Tribune newspaper, and her mother, Rose, taught elementary school, according to Britannica.