Beloved GOP Candidate Abruptly Drops Out, Shocks Supporters

Minnesota Republican lawmaker Kristin Robbins is ending her bid for governor, stepping aside as the race to replace Tim Walz continues to take shape.

Robbins, who chairs the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, confirmed Friday she is dropping out of the race after launching her campaign roughly 10 months ago.

“It was not a tough decision to get into the race 10 months ago,” Robbins told Fox News Digital. “We could not allow Tim Walz to have a third term in Minnesota. He’s destroyed our state, and we had to stop him, and so, I think I made a great case for that, and because of all my work on the fraud committee, he got out nine months ahead of schedule, which is great.”

Her exit comes after Walz announced in January he would not seek reelection amid a sweeping fraud scandal that unfolded during his administration. Shortly after, Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar entered the race, quickly emerging as the party’s leading contender with strong backing and name recognition.

Robbins said that shift changed the political math.

“Once Senator Klobuchar became sort of the anointed candidate to replace him, I just think the establishment kind of circled the wagons and, you know, it became a challenging endeavor, and I’m a realist, and I am a numbers person, and when I look at the math, I don’t see a path for me to win.”

She added that stepping aside was the right move, saying she plans to find a “new way to contribute” to the state she says she loves.

Kristin Robbins (Wiki Commons)

Robbins said her immediate focus will remain on wrapping up the legislative session, particularly her work investigating fraud.

“I know where the bodies are buried,” Robbins said, pointing to ongoing questions about how billions of dollars in fraud went undetected for years.

With Robbins out, the Republican primary field includes Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, healthcare executive Kendall Qualls, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, and several lesser-known candidates.

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Robbins made clear she will not be backing any of them.

“That will be up to the voters to decide, and I wish all the other candidates well,” Robbins said.

Despite ending her campaign, Robbins struck a reflective tone, calling the experience rewarding.

“I am so grateful for the last ten months of going all over the state meeting Minnesotans from every walk of life and to have had the privilege to run for governor and meet all these amazing people and hear their stories, be inspired by what they want for Minnesota,” Robbins said. “I am just so grateful and so privileged.”

Looking ahead, Robbins said real solutions won’t come from St. Paul.

She argued the “answers” will come “from the communities and from the people” and said she looks forward to staying engaged at that level.

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