January 29, 2025 – Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota), the top Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee, has officially joined the Minnesota gubernatorial race.

The current governor, Tim Walz, who is also a Democrat, announced earlier this month that he would drop his reelection campaign, amid escalating tensions with the Trump administration.

Walz and other Minnesota state officials have been targeted by the administration and Republicans over alleged fraud in federal programs. As a result, federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees federal food assistance, have increased scrutiny and threatened to freeze federal funds to the state.

The Trump administration also deployed thousands of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to Minnesota, in operations that have led to clashes with protesters and the killing of two people.

In a video announcing her bid, Klobuchar centered affordability and the recent ICE clashes in the state. During her time on the Senate Agriculture Committee, she has been a part of passing three farm bills. In her role as ranking member, she led opposition to cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), USDA reorganization plans, and President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

So far, no other major Democratic candidates have entered the race, leaving an open field for Klobuchar. The state primary is set for August, and the general election will be in November.

With Klobuchar’s announcement, both ranking members of the House and Senate Agriculture committees are running for a new office in November. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-Minnesota) announced in April that she would run for a Senate seat left open by retiring Democrat Tina Smith. (Link to this post.)

The post Senator Amy Klobuchar Launches Campaign for Minnesota Governor appeared first on Civil Eats.

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