Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat who has represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate since 2007, on Thursday announced that she’s running in the open race for governor of Minnesota. “In Minnesota, I want to be a transformative governor. Walz, first elected in 2018, gained a national profile as Vice President Kamala Harris’ running mate in the 2024 presidential election. Klobuchar was reelected to a six-year term in 2024, meaning that if she were elected to the governor’s office, she would appoint her own successor. Sen. Tina Smith, Minnesota’s junior senator, previously announced she won’t run for reelection to her seat in 2026.