NEW: Democrats Float Scary Replacement For Tim Walz As Governor

Democrats in Minnesota are scrambling to contain political damage after Gov. Tim Walz abruptly dropped his 2026 re-election bid amid mounting fallout from a massive fraud scandal, with party insiders now floating Sen. Amy Klobuchar as a potential replacement at the top of the ticket.

Klobuchar, who was re-elected in 2024 to a fourth Senate term, has been urged by Democrats to consider a run for governor, sources confirmed to Fox News Digital. Sources also told FOX 9 that Klobuchar is weighing her options but has not made a final decision.

Walz met privately with Klobuchar on Sunday, a day before announcing he would abandon his re-election campaign, according to a source familiar with the discussion.

Klobuchar declined to address her political future but publicly defended Walz’s decision.

“Walz made the difficult decision to focus on his job and the challenges facing our state rather than campaigning and running for re-election,” she said Monday.

Klobuchar has never lost a statewide race, winning all four Senate contests by wide margins, including a nearly 16-point victory last year. However, her influence in Senate Democratic leadership remains limited. She currently ranks third, with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer firmly in place and Sen. Brian Schatz widely viewed as the likely successor to retiring Minority Whip Dick Durbin.

Before joining the Senate, Klobuchar served as Hennepin County attorney and later mounted an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.

Walz’s exit followed weeks of intensifying scrutiny over one of the largest public fraud scandals in U.S. history. The governor launched his third-term campaign in September but quickly found himself overwhelmed by revelations of large-scale theft involving taxpayer-funded programs.

“As I reflected on this moment with my family and my team over the holidays, I came to the conclusion that I can’t give a political campaign my all,” Walz wrote. “Every minute I spend defending my own political interests 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 prey on our differences.”

More than 90 people have been charged since 2022 in cases tied to fraudulent meal programs, housing assistance, daycare centers and Medicaid services. Federal prosecutors say losses could exceed $1 billion and potentially reach as high as $9 billion. Authorities allege some defendants used the stolen money to buy luxury vehicles, real estate, jewelry and international vacations, with portions of the funds allegedly sent overseas.

“This is on my watch, I am accountable for this and, more importantly, I am the one that will fix it,” Walz said last month.

The scandal exploded into the national spotlight after a viral video by YouTuber Nick Shirley alleged widespread fraud at Somali-run daycare centers. Days later, the Trump administration froze federal child care funding to Minnesota.

Republicans seized on Walz’s exit as an admission of failure.

“Walz’s failed leadership is emblematic of Minnesota Democrats’ agenda and whoever Democrats choose to replace Walz with at the top of the ticket will need to defend years of mismanagement and misplaced priorities,” said Republican Governors Association spokesperson Courtney Alexander.

Democrats, meanwhile, attempted to project confidence. Democratic Governors Association chair Andy Beshear insisted the party would retain control of the governor’s office.

“No matter who decides to run or how much national Republicans want to spend, the DGA remains very confident Minnesotans will elect another strong Democratic governor this November,” Beshear said.

A crowded Republican primary is already taking shape, including Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, state Rep. Kristin Robbins, former state Sen. Scott Jensen and healthcare technology executive Kendall Qualls.

Robbins questioned whether Democratic insiders are attempting to orchestrate a backroom deal.

“If Tim Walz is going to handpick Klobuchar, Minnesotans deserve to know what she promised him,” Robbins wrote. “Despite any shady backroom deals cut by Walz, voters will decide who is our state’s next Governor and Senator.”

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