Tim Walz, the unsuccessful Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2024, has expressed openness to a potential presidential run in 2028, despite his significant loss alongside then-Vice President Kamala Harris. Speaking on The New Yorker Radio Hour on Sunday, the Minnesota governor, 60, stated, “I never aspired to be president or vice president, but I was honored to be asked.” He added that while he is willing to serve if he believes he can contribute, he understands if voters are reluctant to support him again, saying, “If people nationally say, ‘We tried you, and look how that worked out,’ I’m good with that.”
Walz has ruled out running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Senator Tina Smith in 2026. While he is eligible to seek a third term as Minnesota governor, he has not yet decided whether he will run. When pressed by host David Remnick about a 2028 bid, Walz responded, “I’ll do whatever it takes,” acknowledging that while many others are capable of leading, he would step up if the timing and circumstances were right.
His selection as Harris’ running mate in 2024 was met with skepticism, as some believed Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro would have been a stronger choice. Walz struggled to boost the Democratic ticket, losing his vice-presidential debate to Republican JD Vance and even failing to carry his home county of Blue Earth in Minnesota. Reflecting on the loss, he admitted, “That defeat is something I’ll take with me to the grave.” He also voiced frustration over the consequences of the election, citing Medicaid cuts and attacks on LGBTQ rights as issues that weigh on him personally.
A former congressman who served for 12 years before becoming governor in 2018, Walz dismissed any interest in returning to Capitol Hill, bluntly stating he would “rather eat glass” than seek Smith’s Senate seat. If re-elected as governor and serving through 2031, he would become the longest-serving governor in Minnesota’s history.
