Tim Walz steps back onto national stage as Minnesota exit nears
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Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is back on the road, with recent trips to Spain for a progressive leaders conference and Los Angeles for a nationally televised late-night interview.
The big picture: The DFL governor's ramped-up travel schedule, combined with this week's announcements that he's writing a book and launching a federal PAC, offer early clues about what Walz hopes to do after he leaves office next year.
- While he won't be on the ballot this fall, he's said he plans to use the PAC to help Democrats "expand the map" by recruiting and supporting candidates in rural areas.
State of play: The governor has faced declining approval ratings and intensified scrutiny over his administration's response to fraud in state programs.
- But aides say his vice-presidential bid left him with a robust fundraising list and a steady stream of requests to headline fundraisers and other events for Democrats across the country.
Case in point: He joined other governors at a fundraiser in Los Angeles last night, recently headlined a Democratic Party gala in Idaho and travels to Maine next week.
Plus: Operation Metro Surge put Walz back in the national spotlight as a foil to President Trump.
Between the lines: Walz has said he'll "never" run for elected office again and would rather "eat glass" than seek an appointment to the U.S. Senate.
- But aides expect him to try to maintain a presence on the national stage as a fundraiser, campaign surrogate and "party leader" in 2026 and beyond.
His upcoming book, which will focus in part on resistance to the immigration crackdown, is set for release in early 2027 — meaning he'll likely be on a promotional and media blitz as the 2028 presidential primary picks up.
What he's saying: "I want to help elect people out there, good people," Walz told ABC's Jimmy Kimmel on Wednesday. "I want to go out and find teachers, nurses, small business owners [to run]."
The intrigue: Cash generated by the governor's new federal campaign committee will also allow him to pay for consultants and travel once his term ends.
Reality check: While he may be in demand among Democrats elsewhere, it's unclear how active the governor will be on Minnesota's campaign trail this fall.
- Democrats up and down the ballot see the fraud issue as a top liability with voters.
The other side: Minnesota Republicans dismissed Walz's latest moves as "lame duck governor personified" and criticized him for being "AWOL" heading into the final weeks of session.
What we're watching: Walz's final State of the State address on Tuesday will signal his end-of-term priorities — and how he'll aim to define his legacy.
Zoom in: What taxpayers pay for Walz's travel
Campaign funds paid for the trips overseas and to Los Angeles, a spokesperson confirmed to Axios.
Yes, but: Taxpayers will still be on the hook for some related travel costs.
The reason: Like in some other states, Walz's State Patrol security detail accompanies him on out-of-state travel, even when the trips are for personal or political purposes.
By the numbers: The Minnesota State Patrol spent over $700,000 in state funds to protect the governor as he crisscrossed the country between mid-2023 and the end of 2025, data obtained by Axios via a public records request shows.
- Destinations included overseas trade missions, family vacations and dozens of trips for appearances, fundraisers and speeches before, during and after his 2024 vice presidential bid.
Zoom in: Troopers racked up over $230,000 in travel and salary costs during Walz's vice presidential campaign, even though the governor had Secret Service protection.
What they're saying: Lt. Mike Lee, public information officer for the State Patrol, told Axios that Walz "was still acting as governor during this time, and statute does not limit the state patrol working with other agencies to provide these services."
What we're hearing: University of Minnesota professor Richard W. Painter, who served as an ethics lawyer in George W. Bush's White House, said spending state funds on security, even for political travel, is in the "public interest."
- "It's absolutely critical that we prevent any assassinations, any violence against our political leaders," said Painter, who has criticized Walz over other spending.
"It's a fraction of what we pay for other things, and it's really key to keeping democracy working."
The bottom line: The data shows the cost to taxpayers as Walz built — and maintained — a national profile in his second term.
- It also underscores the heightened security concerns that top state lawmakers must navigate in the current political climate.