Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar is throwing her hat into the ring for Minnesota governor, vowing to tackle President Donald Trump's policies head-on and unite a state that has faced numerous challenges in recent times.
Klobuchar, 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz's former running mate, announced her candidacy on Thursday, promising to stand up against what she sees as Trump's administration's complicity in issues such as immigration crackdowns, federal officers killing protesters, and the assassination of a state legislative leader.
In a video address, Klobuchar said that Minnesota "has been through a lot" and called for leaders who can both assert their authority but also find common ground to fix problems in the state.
Her decision to run for governor comes as a significant boost to Democrats who have struggled to hold onto the office currently occupied by Governor Tim Walz. After abandoning his campaign earlier this month amid criticism over mismanagement of taxpayer funding for child care programs, Walz had been seen as vulnerable to losing re-election.
Klobuchar's candidacy marks a turning point in Minnesota's governorship contest, with multiple Republicans already vying for the GOP nomination. Among those running are MyPillow founder and chief executive Mike Lindell, who has expressed strong support for Trump; Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth; Dr. Scott Jensen, a former state senator who was the party's 2022 gubernatorial candidate; and state Rep. Kristin Robbins.
The Minnesota contest is likely to test Trump and his fellow Republicans' uncompromising stance on immigration against Democrats' criticisms of his administration's tactics.
Klobuchar gained widespread attention during her 2020 presidential bid, showcasing her pragmatism as a moderate Democrat who could win across the country. Her campaign focused on her "grit" and Midwestern sensibilities that have anchored her political identity.
In her latest move, Klobuchar is seeking to capitalize on her national profile and leverage her ability to unite the state behind a single message. The senator has won consistently across Minnesota, earning nearly 16 percentage points in her most recent re-election bid and beating Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris by fewer than five percentage points.
Klobuchar has also demonstrated her willingness to take bold stances on issues such as immigration and national security. In the 2020 Senate debates, she questioned Trump's judicial nominees, including now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, drawing praise from some for her tough questioning.
With multiple prominent Democrats jumping into the gubernatorial fray in recent months, Klobuchar's candidacy has injected new energy into a contest that will likely have far-reaching implications for Minnesota politics and potentially beyond.
Klobuchar, 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz's former running mate, announced her candidacy on Thursday, promising to stand up against what she sees as Trump's administration's complicity in issues such as immigration crackdowns, federal officers killing protesters, and the assassination of a state legislative leader.
In a video address, Klobuchar said that Minnesota "has been through a lot" and called for leaders who can both assert their authority but also find common ground to fix problems in the state.
Her decision to run for governor comes as a significant boost to Democrats who have struggled to hold onto the office currently occupied by Governor Tim Walz. After abandoning his campaign earlier this month amid criticism over mismanagement of taxpayer funding for child care programs, Walz had been seen as vulnerable to losing re-election.
Klobuchar's candidacy marks a turning point in Minnesota's governorship contest, with multiple Republicans already vying for the GOP nomination. Among those running are MyPillow founder and chief executive Mike Lindell, who has expressed strong support for Trump; Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth; Dr. Scott Jensen, a former state senator who was the party's 2022 gubernatorial candidate; and state Rep. Kristin Robbins.
The Minnesota contest is likely to test Trump and his fellow Republicans' uncompromising stance on immigration against Democrats' criticisms of his administration's tactics.
Klobuchar gained widespread attention during her 2020 presidential bid, showcasing her pragmatism as a moderate Democrat who could win across the country. Her campaign focused on her "grit" and Midwestern sensibilities that have anchored her political identity.
In her latest move, Klobuchar is seeking to capitalize on her national profile and leverage her ability to unite the state behind a single message. The senator has won consistently across Minnesota, earning nearly 16 percentage points in her most recent re-election bid and beating Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris by fewer than five percentage points.
Klobuchar has also demonstrated her willingness to take bold stances on issues such as immigration and national security. In the 2020 Senate debates, she questioned Trump's judicial nominees, including now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, drawing praise from some for her tough questioning.
With multiple prominent Democrats jumping into the gubernatorial fray in recent months, Klobuchar's candidacy has injected new energy into a contest that will likely have far-reaching implications for Minnesota politics and potentially beyond.
and i think that's exactly what minnesota needs right now. trump's policies are straight-up toxic and it's crazy that republicans would even try to defend them... anyway, klobuchar has been doing some amazing work in the senate and i'm 100% sure she'll crush it as governor 
. She's got experience, don't get me wrong, but can she really bring people together? I mean, she was part of Trump's ticket last year and still hasn't explicitly disavowed him 
. And what's with all these other Dems jumping into the governor's race? It just seems like a bunch of them trying to one-up each other 
. I'd rather see someone who can actually unite the state behind a single message, you know? 
. Amy Klobuchar's jump to governor is just a power grab 
. She's always been more about the headlines than actual policy 
. I mean, who really believes she's gonna "tackle Trump's policies head-on" and unite the state? 
It's all just PR smoke and mirrors 
. And what about the lack of transparency on her campaign finance 
MyPillow guy Mike Lindell? 
Anyway, Klobuchar's got a solid track record and has shown she can unite the state, so I'm curious to see how that plays out in a gubernatorial campaign 
she's got so much experience and her midwestern vibe is gonna resonate with minnesotans big time 
also her track record of tackling tough issues like immigration and national security shows she's not afraid to take on trump's policies head-on 
so another Politician decides to run for governor just because they're popular on the national stage 
meanwhile, we've got a bunch of other candidates trying to one-up each other with their party affiliations 
i mean, who needs immigration reform when you can just have another election cycle? 
. I mean, let's be real, Tim Walz has had a rough go of it lately, what with all that controversy over those child care programs... not good for Dems 
. And let's not forget her national profile - she's been making waves on the campaign trail since 2020! 
The fact that multiple Republicans are already vying for the GOP nom makes me think this contest is going to be a real nail-biter 
.
. As someone who's been following her career, I think she's got the skills to bring people together and tackle those tough issues head-on 
. Plus, with her experience as a senator and vice presidential nominee, she's got the gravitas to take on those big questions about immigration and national security 
. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in the governor's race, but I think Klobuchar's got a solid shot at winning 
. and let's be real, having someone from minnesota in the governor's seat could be a game changer for the state - we need more leadership like that around here 
i mean we need someone who can take on trump's policies head-on and not back down no matter what, you know? like tim walz was already struggling to keep his campaign afloat after getting roasted for mismanaging child care programs 
klobuchar is literally the only one with the skills and experience to really turn this thing around
i mean, mike lindell is literally just a pillow salesman trying to make a comeback 
lmao
can't wait to see how this all plays out
think amy klobuchar is making a great move here 
and tackle some of those tough issues head on 
no one person can fix everything but klobuchar seems like a leader who can bring folks together and find common ground 
️. also, can't help but wonder what klobuchar's stance is on some of trump's policies, like immigration... 