WASHINGTON – Sen. Amy Klobuchar filed paperwork on Thursday to run for Minnesota governor.
A source close to the senator said the filing with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board “is a preliminary step necessary for any candidate considering a run.” The source also said Klobuchar “will make an announcement in the coming days.”
But there’s little doubt of Klobuchar’s intent. She has already hired campaign staff.
Gov. Tim Walz’s decision to drop his attempt for a third term opened the door for Klobuchar, who will be pitted against one of about a dozen Republicans who are running for the open seat.
Those include “My Pillow” CEO Mike Lindell, whom President Trump has endorsed; state House Speaker Lisa Demuth; state Rep. Kristin Robbins; Kendall Qualls, the leader of a nonprofit who ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2022 and Congress in 2020; and attorney Chris Madel.
Klobuchar, who has served in the U.S. Senate since 2007, was reelected last year, handily defeating GOP candidate Royce White, who is now running for retiring Sen. Tina Smith’s seat.
Considered one of the most effective members of the Senate for her ability to win bipartisan support for legislation, Klobuchar is also known for her ambition. She announced a run for the White House on Feb. 10, 2019, but suspended her campaign about a year later and endorsed Joe Biden.
Klobuchar’s entry into the race may give other Democrats interested in running for governor pause because of the senator’s popularity in the state.
Two other Democrats who hold statewide office and once indicated interest in running for governor if Walz did not seek a third term, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Secretary of State Steve Simon, have said they are not going to enter the race.
Editor’s note: This is a developing story.
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