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A familiar name nationally and in Minnesota has surfaced as someone reportedly interested in replacing embattled Gov. Tim Walz. According to sources who spoke to Axios, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is eyeing a run for her state’s top elected position.
“The four-term senator — one of the state’s highest-profile and most popular Democrats — would be an instant frontrunner in the race to succeed” Walz, the outlet reported. “The buzz about a Klobuchar bid comes on the heels of Walz’s Monday announcement that he is scrapping plans to run for an unprecedented third consecutive term.”
Reports that the two senior Democrats met privately over the weekend, along with the registration of several website domain names such as Klobucharforgovernor.com, have intensified speculation about Amy Klobuchar’s political plans.
One source familiar with Klobuchar’s thinking said no final decision has been made, while another indicated she is likely to enter the race. Multiple Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party operatives and Minnesota political insiders told Axios on Monday that they expect Klobuchar to run, with one source close to the senator saying she is “seriously considering” a bid.
“Klobuchar, a former Hennepin County Attorney, has ascended the ranks of Democratic leadership since her election to the Senate in 2006,” Axios noted. “Her 2020 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination further raised her national profile and fundraising network.”
Klobuchar’s broad appeal in Minnesota has translated into decisive electoral success, with the senator winning all four of her U.S. Senate races by double-digit margins.
In the 2024 election, Klobuchar outperformed the Democratic presidential nominee in the state by five percentage points, according to election results, said Axios.
The outlet further noted that a Klobuchar candidacy could prompt potential Republicans to run against her as well as thwart potential Democratic challengers.
Walz announced on Monday he would end his gubernatorial reelection bid amid a ballooning scandal involving multiple instances of “daycare” and Medicaid fraud that appears to primarily involve the state’s Somali population.
With that said, the Trump administration has launched investigations into the alleged fraud, while also taking other actions.
Small Business Administration chief Kelly Loeffler said Friday that the fraud uncovered thus far is only the tip of the iceberg and warned that criminal prosecutions are coming nationwide. Loeffler made the remarks during an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” which was guest-hosted by Jason Chaffetz, Breitbart reported.
“You’re right,” Loeffler said when asked about the scope of the fraud. “It’s a ton of money and it’s just the tip of the iceberg happening in Minnesota.”
She said investigators initially believed the fraud totaled roughly $1 billion but now know the figure is significantly higher.
Loeffler said her team uncovered $3 million in fraud within three days after launching a review of SBA loans during Thanksgiving weekend. She said investigators identified roughly 7,900 fraudulent loans involving about 6,900 individuals.
Loeffler said some individuals took out multiple loans and have now been permanently banned from doing business with the Small Business Administration.
“They will not get a disaster loan,” she said. “They cannot get SBA funding.” Loeffler added that the SBA will turn its findings over to federal authorities.
“We’re going to see people in handcuffs,” she said. “We’re going to see people in jail.”
Republican challenger John Nagel is accusing Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of being closely linked to the $1 billion Feeding Our Future fraud scandal, which is based in her Minneapolis congressional district. Nagel, who is running against Omar in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, claims that legislation introduced by Omar contributed to the circumstances that allowed the fraud to take place.
“Where did this actually start?” Nagel said, Townhall reported. “She passed legislation. Her legislation actually started it, and it allowed people to get into Feeding Our Future.” Nagel pointed to the geographic concentration of the fraud.
