Senator Amy Klobuchar prepares run for Minnesota Governor

Senator Amy Klobuchar Takes Key Step Toward Minnesota Governor Bid

St. Paul, Minnesota – January 22, 2026 – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar has filed preliminary paperwork to launch a campaign for governor of Minnesota, signaling a near-certain entry into the race to succeed Gov. Tim Walz in the 2026 election.

The longtime Democratic senator submitted documents Thursday with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to form a campaign committee, a move described by a source close to her as "a preliminary step necessary for any candidate considering a run." Klobuchar is expected to make a formal announcement in the coming days, according to multiple reports from aides and allies speaking on condition of anonymity.

The development comes amid a dramatically reshaped political landscape in Minnesota. Gov. Walz, the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party's two-term incumbent and former 2024 vice presidential nominee, unexpectedly bowed out of his reelection bid earlier this month. Walz's decision followed mounting challenges, including scrutiny over a large-scale Medicaid fraud scandal in the state and other pressures that complicated his path to a historic third term.

Klobuchar, 65, who has represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate since 2007 and recently won a fourth term in 2024 by a comfortable 15-percentage-point margin, is widely viewed as the frontrunner for the DFL nomination. Party insiders and operatives have rallied around her as the strongest candidate to maintain Democratic control of the governor's office. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who had been considered a potential contender, announced this week that he would seek reelection rather than pursue the governorship, further clearing the path for Klobuchar.

A former Hennepin County Attorney before her Senate career, Klobuchar has long cultivated an image as a pragmatic, moderate Democrat with strong statewide appeal. Her decision to shift from Washington to St. Paul would mark a return to executive leadership, where she has expressed interest in being able to "get things done" more directly than in the gridlocked U.S. Senate. While she has not ruled out future national ambitions—including a possible 2028 presidential run—friends and aides note that a gubernatorial term could provide a stronger platform or alter those calculations.

The 2026 governor's race arrives at a volatile moment for Minnesota, which has become a focal point for national debates. Recent events, including federal immigration enforcement actions under President Trump, a fatal shooting involving a federal agent in Minneapolis, and widespread protests, have heightened tensions. The state has also faced Justice Department investigations into several Democratic officials, adding layers of complexity to the contest.

Republicans, who have not won the governor's mansion since 2002, quickly criticized Klobuchar's move. Minnesota GOP Chair Alex Plechash called her a "career Washington politician" who would import "failed, dysfunctional D.C. politics" to the state.Precinct caucuses—the first step in the DFL endorsement process—are set for February 3, with primaries scheduled for August 11 and the general election on November 3. If Klobuchar wins and assumes office, she would become Minnesota's first female governor, and her departure from the Senate would trigger an appointment by the sitting governor (potentially Walz in his final weeks or herself if the timing aligns) to fill the vacancy until a special election.

For now, all eyes remain on Klobuchar as Minnesota Democrats look to her to stabilize and lead the party in what promises to be one of the nation's most closely watched gubernatorial contests.

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The Vance Boelter conspiracy theory involving Amy Klobuchar stems from events surrounding the June 2025 shootings in Minnesota, where Vance Boelter, a 57-year-old man, was arrested and charged in the fatal shooting of state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, as well as the attempted murder of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. Authorities described the attacks as politically motivated domestic terrorism, with Boelter compiling a "hit list" of dozens of Democratic officials (including Klobuchar, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and others), primarily those supportive of reproductive rights.

The core of the conspiracy claim originates from a handwritten letter Boelter allegedly wrote and addressed to then-FBI Director Kash Patel (or the FBI more broadly), which was recovered and referenced in court documents and media reports around mid-2025. In the letter—described by sources familiar with it (including Star Tribune reporting) as rambling, incoherent, and deeply conspiratorial—Boelter confessed to the shootings but also made wild, unsubstantiated allegations. He claimed:

• He had been "trained by the U.S. military off the books" and conducted covert operations worldwide.

• Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had personally approached him and instructed him to assassinate U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (and in some versions of reports, also Sen. Tina Smith) so Walz could clear the way to run for one of Minnesota's Senate seats, motivated by distrust that Klobuchar would retire as planned.

• Threats were made against his family if he didn't comply, and he framed his actions partly as retaliation or exposure of this supposed plot.

Federal prosecutors, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and officials (including Walz's office) have repeatedly stated there is no evidence supporting these claims. They describe Boelter as acting alone, driven by his own political extremism (despite some right-wing attempts to portray him otherwise), and emphasize that the letter reflects a delusional or disturbed mindset rather than any credible conspiracy. Boelter had a prior appointment to a minor state board or task force related to business/small business representation under Walz's administration, which some amplified into a deeper "connection," but this was routine and not indicative of involvement.

Mainstream outlets (e.g., Star Tribune, Washington Post, AP, NPR) and official statements treated the letter's accusations as baseless and symptomatic of Boelter's instability. No credible evidence has emerged linking Walz, Klobuchar, or any officials to such a plot—Klobuchar herself was named on Boelter's target list and publicly mourned Hortman while condemning political violence.

17GEN4.com