ISTANBUL

Tim Walz, the governor of the US upper Midwest state of Minnesota, said on Monday that he would not seek a third term amid a clash with US President Donald Trump and allegations of fraud in the state.

"I've decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work," Walz said in a statement.

Walz said that while he announced in September he would run for a third term and had confidence he would succeed, he concluded that he cannot give a political campaign his all.

"Every minute I spend defending my own political interests would be a minute I can't spend defending the people of Minnesota against the criminals who prey on our generosity and the cynics who prey on our differences," Walz said.

He said he is passing on the race with zero sadness and regret. "I didn't run for this job so I could have this job. I ran for this job so I could do this job."

Walz criticized Trump and his allies, saying they "want to make our state a colder, meaner place."

"We've got the president of the United States demonizing our Somali neighbors and wrongly confiscating childcare funding that Minnesotans rely on," he said. "But I cannot abide the actions of the political leadership in Washington — these opportunists who are willing to hurt our people to score a few cheap points."

Trump accuses Minnesota Gov. Walz of stealing 'tens of billions'

Trump accused Walz and Rep. Ilhan Omar of stealing tens of billions of taxpayer dollars alongside members of the Somali community.

"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," Trump said on his social media company Truth Social.

He said he is certain the facts will reveal "a seriously unscrupulous, and rich, group of 'slimeballs.'"

Trump claimed Walz has destroyed Minnesota but compared him to other Democratic governors, saying officials, including California's Gavin Newsom, Illinois' JB Pritzker and New York's Kathy Hochul "have done, in my opinion, an even more dishonest and incompetent job."

Walz, the 41st governor of Minnesota, home to a large Somali community, has been in power since 2019 and next elections in the state are scheduled for Aug. 11.

The move follows allegations of fraudulent practices at some childcare centers in Minnesota after an unverified video circulated on social media, initially leading to a freeze on state payments before the measure was expanded nationwide.

Minnesota officials rejected the allegations, saying facilities cited in the video had been inspected and are operating in compliance with state regulations.

Walz, the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2024's election and a frequent Trump target, criticized the federal decision as politicizing the issue and undermining programs supporting families.