Walz’s life has gone from bad to worse. And this may be the nail in the coffin.
Because his own daughter just accused him of an unsettling crime.
Walz’s Sudden Exit from Governor’s Race
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz faced intense scrutiny leading to his unexpected withdrawal from the 2026 re-election bid, overshadowed by allegations of widespread fraud in state programs. His daughter, Hope Walz, opened up about the family discussions that influenced this move, highlighting the personal toll amid escalating public criticism.
Family Reflections Amid Political Turmoil
Hope Walz, 25, appeared on the One Hour Detours podcast with host John O’Sullivan shortly after her father’s announcement. She explained, “We were kind of talking about it over the holidays and that’s the decision he came to, my family came to.”
She noted that her father started rethinking his candidacy “with things rapidly changing within the last month.”
Avoiding speaking directly for him, Hope shared, “I don’t want to speak for him, but I think when things started getting really intense for me like on my social media and then people even saying things like to Gus and stuff, I think that’s when he was really like, ‘Okay, like, I need to evaluate what’s best for the state and then I need to evaluate what’s best for my family,’” adding, “And then, I think it was just kind of a natural conclusion.”
Hope suggested her father’s choice aimed to deflect attention from the state, quoting him as saying part of the reason was “to kind of get that target off of Minnesota,” and “‘I think he believes if he’s not in the race, there’s nothing, they have nothing else.”
She attributed much of the backlash to President Trump, claiming he “just hates him for some reason,” and “I think it’s because he’s everything Trump will never be.” Hope added, “I think he was popular during the campaign last fall and he’s still in office and he’s running again, and so it’s just kind of an easy thing for them to pick up on.”
Escalating Fraud Allegations and Public Backlash
The decision comes against the backdrop of a ballooning scandal involving massive misuse of Minnesota’s social welfare funds, particularly in programs aiding the Somali community. Hope acknowledged “enough truth to the fraud claims” that critics could “twist and amplify it” and “frame it in a way that benefited them,” while insisting the issue “is being dealt with.”
This follows Hope’s earlier outburst on TikTok, where she defended her family: “I’m talking about this because while my family and I are always gonna be the bigger people, the president calling my dad what he did has unleashed a f–king s–t storm regarding offensive language towards me and my family and specifically my brother.”
She continued, “You can call me whatever you want, you can call my dad, my mom, when it’s Gus, f–k to the no. He dealt with people calling him that last August and now there’s a resurgence? No.”
The controversy intensified after Trump labeled Walz “seriously r*tarded” in a Thanksgiving post, accusing him of allowing Somali immigrants to overrun the “once great state.”
Independent journalist Nick Shirley’s viral video exposed largely vacant taxpayer-funded day cares, fueling estimates of fraud reaching at least $1 billion, with First Assistant US Attorney Joe Thompson suggesting it could exceed $9 billion. The schemes involved fake nonprofits siphoning state money for services like homelessness aid, food assistance, and child care, leading to over 90 prosecutions.
Despite Democrats’ strong hold on Minnesota elections since 2006, Walz’s abrupt exit marks a significant shift, as he was previously viewed as a strong contender for another term.
