Ellison rules out governor bid, stays in AG race
Attorney General Keith Ellison says he will not run for Minnesota governor in 2026 despite Gov. Tim Walz abandoning his re‑election bid, and will instead stick with his campaign for a third term as AG. In a statement reported Tuesday, Ellison says that as the "federal government declares war on Minnesota" through the ICE surge, he is "best equipped to defend Minnesotans" from the Attorney General’s Office, explicitly tying his decision to the ongoing federal crackdown centered on the Twin Cities. His exit from the governor chatter narrows the DFL’s options at the top of the ticket — names still in the mill include Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Secretary of State Steve Simon — while leaving a packed GOP field already featuring Lisa Demuth, Mike Lindell, Chris Madel, Kristin Robbins and Scott Jensen. For metro residents, it means the same AG who’s been suing and getting hauled into court over SNAP, Medicaid fraud, ICE tactics and HUD’s homelessness cuts will remain on that front line instead of jumping into a new statewide race.
📌 Key Facts
- Ellison confirms he will continue his bid for a third term as Minnesota Attorney General rather than run for governor.
- He cites the federal ICE surge and what he calls a 'war on Minnesota' as reasons he believes he should stay in the AG role.
- Ellison had been mentioned alongside Amy Klobuchar and Steve Simon as a potential DFL gubernatorial candidate after Tim Walz dropped his re‑election plans.
📊 Relevant Data
Federal prosecutors estimate that fraud schemes in Minnesota, particularly involving Somali-run organizations in programs like Feeding Our Future and child care assistance, could total over $9 billion in defrauded taxpayer funds.
Everything we know about Minnesota's massive fraud schemes — CBS News
Somali immigrants in Minnesota have per capita crime rates that are two to five times higher than those of native-born residents, based on apples-to-apples comparisons adjusting for demographics.
Yes, Somali Immigrants Commit More Crime Than Natives — City Journal
Somali Minnesotans generate at least $500 million in annual income and contribute approximately $67 million in state and local taxes.
Somali Minnesotans drive economic growth, pay $67M taxes annually — KSTP
Approximately 107,000 people of Somali descent live in Minnesota, representing about 2% of the state's total population as of 2024.
By the numbers: Minnesota's Somali population, according to census data — KTTC
One in eight children in poverty in Minnesota lives in a Somali immigrant home, with 39% of working-age Somalis lacking a high school education.
Somali Immigrants in Minnesota — Center for Immigration Studies
Operation Metro Surge was initiated in response to massive fraud scandals and criminal activities, including convictions for fraud, receiving stolen property, and child-related offenses among targeted individuals in Minnesota's immigrant communities.
ICE Arrests Worst of the Worst Criminal Illegal Aliens During Operation Metro Surge — Department of Homeland Security
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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