Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he is dropping re-election bid for incredulous reasons

Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, cited heightened attention on fraud allegations in Minnesota

Late last month, a video from right-wing influencer Nick Shirley went viral, alleging fraud at child care facilities in Minnesota. After the video went viral, the Department of Health and Human Services announced it would freeze all federal child care payments to the state. Days later, Minnesota's Department of Children, Youth, and Families said that investigators found the child care facilities in question "were operating as expected."

"the political gamesmanship we’re seeing from Republicans is only making that fight harder to win. But as I reflected on this moment with my family and my team over the holidays, I came to the conclusion that I can’t give a political campaign my all," he said. "Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can’t spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences."