Tim Walz Confirmed About Run for President in 2028!

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has officially ended speculation about his potential candidacy for the 2028 presidential race, announcing in a recent interview that he has no intention of seeking the White House.

The revelation came just weeks after Walz launched a national speaking tour that took him through several red and purple states, leading many political observers to suspect he was laying the groundwork for a presidential campaign.

However, Walz decisively put those rumors to rest in a conversation with former Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chair Jaime Harrison during a widely circulated podcast interview.

Harrison, recognizing the mounting curiosity surrounding Walz’s national aspirations, broached the topic early in the conversation. “First question that people would kill me if I didn’t ask: You thinking about running in 2028?” Harrison asked directly.

Without hesitation, Walz responded, “I am not.” The governor’s candid reply came as a surprise to many in the political establishment, as his increased national visibility and engagements had seemed to suggest otherwise.

Walz went on to clarify his role within the Democratic Party moving forward. “My job, and I’ve said that, is I am doing all I can to help build the party and make sure whoever that person is wins,” Walz explained.

“And I think we need to flood the zone with people.” His comments suggest that rather than seeking the presidency himself, Walz intends to play the role of party builder and kingmaker, working to strengthen the Democratic bench and ensure a strong showing in the 2028 general election.

This decision, while surprising to some, reflects a broader dynamic within the Democratic Party as it begins to prepare for the post-Biden era. Despite his national profile and active participation in party events, Walz has consistently polled in the lower tier of potential Democratic contenders.

A recent primary poll conducted by Echelon Insights placed Walz at just three percent support among Democratic voters, a clear sign that his potential candidacy lacked the broad grassroots enthusiasm necessary for a serious bid.

Nonetheless, there were some bright spots in the polling data for the Minnesota governor. Among Democratic primary voters who listed Vice President Kamala Harris as their top choice, 14 percent named Walz as their preferred second option.

This was the highest second-choice percentage among any candidate in the field, suggesting that while Walz may not be voters’ first pick, he is viewed favorably by a significant subset of the Democratic base, particularly those aligned with Harris.

Walz’s withdrawal from consideration subtly shifts the contours of the emerging 2028 Democratic primary field, which remains highly unsettled. With President Joe Biden out of office and Harris the presumed frontrunner, other prominent Democrats like California Governor Gavin Newsom and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker are carefully positioning themselves for potential runs.

Both have remained highly active in national Democratic politics, appearing frequently on media circuits and engaging with party donors and activists.

Kamala Harris has maintained a commanding lead in early primary polls, especially among Black voters, a critical demographic given the Democratic primary calendar’s early contests in states like South Carolina.

The Palmetto State, with its significant Black electorate, has often played a decisive role in shaping the trajectory of Democratic primary races. If current polling trends hold, Harris could secure an early victory in South Carolina, providing her campaign with vital momentum heading into the later primaries.

However, the Democratic field is far from settled, and other candidates continue to gain traction. Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who has remained a visible figure within the Democratic Party since his 2020 presidential run, has consistently polled near the top of recent surveys.

A June 28 poll conducted by Emerson College showed Buttigieg performing strongly, coming in second behind Harris. Yet, Buttigieg continues to face challenges in broadening his coalition of support, particularly among Black voters—a demographic he struggled with in 2020 and continues to underperform with today.

In a striking statistic from the Emerson poll, not a single Black respondent identified Buttigieg as their preferred candidate.

This dynamic was mirrored in the Echelon Insights poll, where Buttigieg’s ceiling of support appeared limited. While he placed second overall, only eight percent of respondents cited him as their second-choice candidate. This suggests that Buttigieg’s appeal, while enthusiastic among a core base of supporters, has not yet translated into widespread party support.

Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom has been making calculated efforts to rebrand himself as a pragmatic moderate. His appearances on various podcast platforms and media interviews have sought to distance him from the more progressive image he cultivated earlier in his career.

This repositioning appears to be yielding dividends, as Newsom has enjoyed a noticeable bump in the polls over the past several weeks. His ability to bridge the party’s ideological divides will be crucial if he decides to formally enter the race.

While Walz’s absence from the 2028 field may come as a disappointment to some of his supporters, his decision not to run could ultimately benefit the Democratic Party’s broader strategic efforts.

By focusing on party building rather than a personal campaign, Walz can play a pivotal role in strengthening the Democratic infrastructure in swing states like Minnesota and beyond.

His expertise in winning elections in a politically competitive state could prove invaluable as Democrats look to defend their Senate majority and reclaim governorships in key battlegrounds.

Political analysts have noted that Walz’s national profile, though rising, never fully caught fire in the way that other potential contenders’ have. His Midwestern roots and pragmatic approach to governance earned him respect within certain Democratic circles, but he lacked the star power and media magnetism that often propel presidential campaigns.

Nonetheless, his policy expertise and focus on party unity could position him as an influential figure behind the scenes, potentially shaping the platform and direction of the Democratic nominee in 2028.

The Democratic Party’s 2028 primary is shaping up to be a wide-open contest, with no clear consensus candidate emerging beyond Harris. As the field continues to evolve, candidates will need to navigate complex internal dynamics, including the party’s ideological splits and demographic coalitions.

The competition for donor support, media attention, and grassroots enthusiasm will be fierce, particularly given the high stakes of the next presidential election.

As for the Republican side, the party is also expected to have a crowded primary field. While President Donald Trump remains a dominant figure within the GOP, the 2028 race will likely feature a new generation of Republican leaders eager to build on Trump’s political legacy while offering their own vision for the future.

Strategists anticipate intense competition for key campaign talent, including figures like Chris LaCivita, whose role in Trump’s successful 2024 campaign has made him one of the most sought-after operatives in the Republican Party.

In the wake of Walz’s announcement, attention within the Democratic Party will shift even more intently to the remaining contenders. Harris, Newsom, Pritzker, and Buttigieg all remain viable candidates, each with distinct strengths and vulnerabilities.

Harris’s close ties to the Biden administration provide her with institutional support but also saddle her with the challenges of defending an administration that faced significant criticism in its later years.

Newsom’s attempts to rebrand himself as a centrist may help him in the general election, but he must first navigate a primary electorate that remains ideologically diverse.

Buttigieg’s task is clear: expand his appeal beyond white, affluent, and younger voters to include the broader Democratic coalition, especially Black voters and working-class communities. Pritzker, with his personal wealth and gubernatorial experience, also remains a potential dark horse in the race.

In the end, while Tim Walz’s decision removes one name from the list of 2028 presidential hopefuls, the race remains wide open, and the coming months will likely see more candidates declare their intentions.

As the Democratic Party prepares for a fiercely competitive primary, Walz’s commitment to strengthening the party’s foundation may prove just as significant as any single candidacy.

Full video of Tim Walz's interview: