US Senator Amy Klobuchar Launches Governor Bid as ICE Violence Engulfs Minnesota

Democratic U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced Thursday that she is running for governor of Minnesota, launching her campaign at a moment when the state is gripped by outrage and instability following President Donald Trump’s federal immigration crackdown and the deaths of two U.S. citizens during recent protests.

Klobuchar, a four-term senator, filed paperwork to enter the race last week but delayed her public announcement after immigration agents shot and killed Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The killing sparked widespread anger across the state and reportedly forced internal shakeups within the Trump administration.

Minnesotans, we’ve been through a lot.

And I believe this moment calls for grit, resilience, and faith in each other.

I believe we must stand up for what’s right. And fix what’s wrong.

Today, I’m announcing my candidacy for Governor. pic.twitter.com/yVnbvmMyxO

— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) January 29, 2026

In a campaign video posted on X, Klobuchar sharply criticized the administration’s actions. She said that thousands of ICE agents had been sent into Minnesota communities by an administration that “relishes division,” and argued that the moment demands leaders who will stand up rather than serve as rubber stamps. She said she is running for Minnesotans who want ICE and what she called its abusive tactics out of the state.

Klobuchar also cited the killing of Renee Good earlier this month. Both Good and Pretti, aged 37, were participating in protests against ICE tactics when they were shot. Their deaths have become rallying points for growing anger over immigration enforcement in Minnesota.

The state has also been shaken by a series of other violent incidents in recent weeks, including the assassination of one state lawmaker, the shooting of another elected official, and a shooting at a Minneapolis church during a Mass attended by Catholic school children. The unrest has drawn national and international attention and has even prompted rare criticism of Trump’s approach from some Republicans ahead of upcoming congressional elections.

The political fallout is already reshaping the governor’s race. Republican attorney Chris Madel dropped out of the contest earlier this week, saying in a video statement that national Republicans have made it nearly impossible for a Republican to win statewide office in Minnesota. He described the current political climate as a campaign of retribution against the state.

Outgoing Governor Tim Walz, who previously announced he would not seek a third term, said this week that he will never run for office again, explaining that he has become a lightning rod for political attacks.

In her announcement, Klobuchar said her campaign would also focus on broader issues beyond immigration, including fighting abuse and fraud in government, expanding access to healthcare, and addressing the state’s growing childcare crisis, which has already put some federal funding at risk.

Her entry into the race immediately positions her as the leading Democratic contender and ensures that Minnesota’s governor’s race will draw intense national attention.

Joseph Johnson

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