It’s up or out for six-term Minnesota Rep. Tim Walz, a longtime member of the House Agriculture Committee. He’s running for the Democratic nomination for governor, reports Minnesota Public Radio, in a race with three other announced candidates to succeed Gov. Mark Dayton, who is retiring.
“A Walz bid for governor puts his congressional district in play,” says MPR. Republican Jim Hagedorn, who lost to Walz by less than a percentage point last November during a strong year for Republicans, “has already announced his intention to run again.” The Minneapolis Star Tribune said, “With Walz departing the First District, the open seat will be a prime pickup opportunity for Republicans given their relative strength there.”
Walz represents the First Congressional District, which stretches across the southern end of Minnesota. Walz, 52, told a local newspaper on Monday morning that he would run for governor. “By mid-morning, his longtime congressional campaign website had been converted to a Walz-for-governor site,” said MPR.