Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has dropped his re-election campaign as scrutiny over his administration’s handling of alleged fraud in the state intensifies.

“Minnesota has to come first – always,” Walz said on X, “Today, I’m proud of the work we’ve done to make Minnesota the best place to live and raise kids.”

“I’ve decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work,” he added.

“Over the past several years, an organized group of criminals has sought to take advantage of our state’s generosity,” Walz stated in a lengthy statement. “And even as we make progress in the fight against the fraudsters, we now see an organized group of political actors seeking to take advantage of the crisis.”

“I won’t mince words here. Donald Trump and his allies – in Washington, in Saint Paul, and online – want to make our state a colder, meaner place. They want to poison our people against each other by attacking our neighbors. And, ultimately, they want to take away much of what makes Minnesota the best place in America to raise a family. They’ve already begun by taking our tax dollars that were meant to help families afford child care. And they have no intention of stopping there,” the statement continued.

Walz is scheduled to hold a press conference Monday morning about dropping his re-election campaign. Reports indicated Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is considering entering the gubernatorial race. Walz, who served as the Democrats’ 2024 vice presidential nominee, met with Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) on Sunday to discuss the campaign, according to a source familiar with the meeting.

Walz had faced increasing political pressure over a federal probe into a sweeping fraud scandal in the state. The Republican Party of Minnesota stated: “With speculation swirling about the political future of Tim Walz it is more important than ever to have strong candidates for Governor and the legislature so we can take back our state.” The party also urged voters to attend precinct caucuses on February 3, noting: “Plan on attending precinct caucuses on February 3. It’s the first step in choosing our winning team for November.” A spokesperson confirmed Walz would hold a news conference at 11 a.m. Monday to address the situation.