While taking questions about his decision to forego a reelection campaign, Walz said Minnesota is "under assault like no other time in our state's history because of a petty, vile administration that doesn't care about the well-being of Minnesotans."

"I don't think any governor in history has had to fight a war against the federal government every single day," Walz said.

The governor lashed out at President Trump for continuing to push a conspiracy theory about the assassination of Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, putting his family at risk via rhetoric and attacking the state's Somali community. Walz also called Mr. Trump "the biggest fraudster" and said his comments about the Hortman killings are "evil."

As for his remaining time in office, Walz said he will not resign and he will spend it trying "to protect every single person in this state."

"For Republicans here, I have more energy than I've ever had, I am committed to this state more than I've ever been, I love this state with every fiber of my being," he said.

Walz accused the GOP of wanting "to tear this state down" and said "Republicans are going to lose races up and down the ticket." While he said he has not hand-picked a successor for the Democratic candidacy, he thinks the party has "a very deep bench" and is "very confident a Democrat's gonna win this."

Walz is expected to answer questions about his decision to drop out of the gubernatorial race Tuesday during a news conference on Minnesota's paid leave program. 

Walz spoke to the media on Monday following his announcement, but did not answer any questions, saying he would do so at Tuesday's event.

At 11:30 a.m., the governor will be joined by Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Matt Varilek and others to provide an update on the state's paid leave program, which went into effect at the start of the year and has already garnered thousands of applications.

You can watch Walz's Tuesday news conference on CBS News Minnesota or WCCO's YouTube page.

Even before Walz stepped aside, Arne Carlson was quoted in a Minnesota Star Tribune column on the state's fraud crisis, saying, "The first thing is for Gov. Walz to announce that he is not running for re-election."

Carlson served two terms as governor of Minnesota in the 1990s. The former Republican governor was the state auditor before that and believes Walz's decision is just the first step toward addressing the fraud issue.

"Once you get yourself mired in this kind of a problem, it requires full-time on your part," Carlson told WCCO of Walz's decision.

The former two-term governor was quick to point out that the state was warned for years that internal controls were insufficient. 

"That warning was repeated year in and year out, until finally, I think it was in 2021, the FBI came in and the rest of it is history. So you really need to revamp your entire management system," Carlson said. 

He suggests starting that revamp with the expertise of private sector leaders and emulating a program from the 1970s titled the "Loaned Executives Action Program." 

Carlson explained the program utilized the talents of the business community to analyze and improve state departments. 

"Less politics. Let's cut the politics out and let's pay attention to competency and honesty in government," he said.

President Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social on Monday afternoon about Gov. Tim Walz deciding to drop out of Minnesota's 2026 gubernatorial race.

"Minnesota's Corrupt Governor will possibly leave office before his Term is up but, in any event, will not be running again because he was caught, REDHANDED, along with Ilhan Omar, and others of his Somali friends, stealing Tens of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars," Mr. Trump, without providing evidence, said in the post. "I feel certain the facts will come out, and they will reveal a seriously unscrupulous, and rich, group of 'SLIMEBALLS.'"

The president went on to say that Walz "destroyed" Minnesota, and criticized that other Democratic governors, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, have done an "incompetent job" with their states.

Walz has been the target of attacks by Mr. Trump. On Thanksgiving, the president used a slur for people with intellectual disabilities to describe Walz on his Truth Social platform. During a media availability on Sunday, he called Walz "a very stupid, low-IQ governor."

Days after the Minnesota lawmaker shootings last June, Mr. Trump was asked by a reporter if he planned to call Walz about the attacks. The president said he wouldn't, and called Walz "slick" and "whacked out."

Conservative YouTuber Nick Shirley reacted to Walz's decision to drop out of the race, tweeting, "I ENDED TIM WALZ."

Last week, Shirley posted a video alleging that nearly a dozen day care centers in Minnesota that are receiving public funds are not actually providing any service. As of Monday, the video has 3.2 million views on YouTube and 138 million views on X.

In response to Shirley's tweet, Elon Musk wrote, "Thank God." Shirley then said it "would not have been possible without X."

In the wake of the video, the Trump administration announced it is pausing federal funding to child care in Minnesota, with President Trump calling Minnesota a "hub of fraudulent money laundering activity."   

Former U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips says he does not plan to run for governor of Minnesota or for the U.S. Senate.

"But I stand at the ready to assist common sense candidates committed to reducing the cost of living, improving education and public safety, addressing corruption, and restoring competency in governance," Phillips said in a post on X.

Phillips challenged former President Biden in the 2024 election before Kamala Harris replaced him as the Democratic frontrunner.

Leaders in Minnesota are reacting Monday morning to Gov. Tim Walz's announcement that he is dropping his bid for reelection as governor.

See more reactions here, including from the Republican Governors Association and the Minnesota DFL Party chair. 

Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is seriously considering a run for governor in the wake of Tim Walz's decision Monday to end his bid for a third term. 

Sources close to Klobuchar tell CBS News she is getting outreach encouraging her to run, but that she has not made a decision. 

[Read more]

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison released the following statement after Walz's announcement: 

"Tim Walz is a remarkable leader, and Minnesota has benefitted immensely from the compassion he brought to his decades of public service. Tim banished hunger from Minnesota classrooms, signed universal background checks into law, and passed paid family leave. He built a record of standing up for people who need it - from the LGBTQ+ community to working-class families to teachers and more. Tim's legacy is one of putting people first and delivering for Minnesotans in every corner of our state, and that's a legacy to be damn proud of. 

Tim led Minnesota through some of the greatest challenges faced by any governor in living memory. I have had the privilege of serving Minnesotans alongside Tim for almost 20 years. We were elected to Congress together, and then to statewide office. It has been an honor to call Tim my governor, my colleague, and my friend, and I am extremely grateful for all he has done on behalf of Minnesota."

Shortly after Walz announced he is not seeking reelection, Majority Whip Tom Emmer released a two-word statement: "Good riddance."

Late last month, Emmer called for the deportation of Somali-American citizens engaged in fraud.