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Klobuchar weighing run for Minnesota governor as Walz ends re-election bid amid fraud scandal
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Democrats in Minnesota are urging longtime Sen. Amy Klobuchar to jump into the blue-leaning state’s race for governor in the wake of Monday’s blockbuster move by Democratic Gov. Tim Walz to end his 2026 re-election bid amid political fallout from a massive fraud scandal.
Klobuchar, who was re-elected in 2024 to a fourth 6-year term in the U.S. Senate, is receiving calls urging her to run for governor, sources in Minnesota confirmed to Fox News Digital.
And sources are telling FOX 9 in Minnesota that Klobuchar is considering making a gubernatorial bid but has yet to make any final decision.
Walz met Sunday with Klobuchar to discuss his decision to drop his re-election bid, a source familiar confirmed to Fox News.
FRAUD FALLOUT FORCES WALZ TO ABANDON GUBERNATORIAL RE-ELECTION BID
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., met on Sunday with Gov. Tim Walz ahead of his Monday announcement that he would drop his 2026 re-election bid, according to sources. (Bloomberg/Getty)
Klobuchar didn’t comment on her future political plans in a statement Monday. But the senator, commenting on the governor’s move to combat the fraud scandal full time rather than to seek another term in office, said that «Walz made the difficult decision to focus on his job and the challenges facing our state rather than campaigning and running for re-election.»
The senator has won all four of her Senate elections by wide margins, including a nearly 16-point re-election in 2024.
But Klobuchar, who is currently number three in Senate Democratic leadership, faces hurdles to rise higher in party leadership in the chamber.
WILL MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL FORCE RESIGNATIONS?
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is currently the top Democrat in the upper chamber, and isn’t expected to leave his post. But Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is retiring from Congress, leaving an opening to fill in the leadership pecking order. Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, is the expected heir apparent for that position, however.
Before serving in the Senate, Klobuchar was elected twice as county attorney in Hennepin County, Minnesota’s most populous. She also ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party’s 2020 presidential nomination.
The announcement by Walz, the 2024 Democratic vice presidential nominee, came amid stinging criticism over his handling of his state’s massive welfare assistance fraud scandal.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, at a news conference at the Minnesota State Capitol on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn., announces he’s dropping his 2026 re-election bid. (Kerem Yücel/Minnesota Public Radio via AP)
«As I reflected on this moment with my family and my team over the holidays, I came to the conclusion that I can’t give a political campaign my all,» Walz wrote in a statement. «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.»
«So I’ve decided to step out of this race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work in front of me for the next year,» the governor added in his statement and in front of cameras a couple of hours later. The governor didn’t take any questions but said on Tuesday he would return to «take all your questions.»
GOP LAWMAKER UNVEILS WALZ ACT AFTER BILLIONS LOST IN MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL
Walz launched his bid for a third four-year term as Minnesota governor in September, but in recent weeks has been facing a barrage of incoming political fire from President Donald Trump and Republicans, and some Democrats, over the large-scale theft in a state that has long prided itself on good governance.
More than 90 people — most from Minnesota’s large Somali community — have been charged since 2022 in what has been described as the nation’s largest COVID-era scheme. How much money has been stolen through alleged money laundering operations involving fraudulent meal and housing programs, daycare centers, and Medicaid services is still being tabulated. But the U.S. attorney in Minnesota said the scope of the fraud could exceed $1 billion and rise to as high as $9 billion.
Prosecutors said that some of the dozens that have already pleaded guilty in the case used the money to buy luxury cars, real estate, jewelry and international vacations, with some of the funds also sent overseas and potentially into the hands of Islamic terrorists.
«This is on my watch, I am accountable for this and, more importantly, I am the one that will fix it,» Walz told reporters last month, as he took responsibility for the scandal.
The governor took actions to stop some of the suspected fraudulent payments, and ordered an outside audit of Medicaid billing in the state.
But Trump repeatedly blasted Walz as «incompetent» and, during Thanksgiving, used a slur for developmentally disabled people to describe the governor.
The scandal, which grabbed plenty of national attention over the past two months, went viral the past two weeks following the release of a video by 23-year-old YouTube content creator Nick Shirley, who alleged widespread fraud at Somali-run daycare centers. Days later, the Trump administration froze federal child-care funding to Minnesota.
Republican Governors Association Communications Director Courtney Alexander charged in a statement that «Walz’s failed leadership is emblematic of Minnesota Democrats’ agenda and whoever Democrats choose to replace Walz with at the top of the ticket will need to defend years of mismanagement and misplaced priorities.»
But Democratic Governors Association (DGA) chair Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky said in a statement, «No matter who decides to run or how much national Republicans want to spend, the DGA remains very confident Minnesotans will elect another strong Democratic governor this November.»
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And Besehar praised Walz, a former DGA chair, as «a true leader who has delivered results that will make life better for Minnesota workers and families for years to come.»
Roughly a dozen Republicans are vying to be the GOP’s gubernatorial nominee, including Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, state Rep. Kristin Robbins, former state Sen. Scott Jensen, and healthcare technology executive Kendall Qualls, a past congressional and gubernatorial candidate.
amy klobuchar,tim walz,donald trump,minnesota fraud exposed,minnesota,governors,elections,democrats senate
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Qué pasará si Estados Unidos lanza una invasión terrestre en Irán: analistas opinan y la respuesta no es buena
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FIRST ON FOX: Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., said an alleged Iranian state actor recently targeted him with a phishing scheme disguised as a television interview request, in what he described as an apparent effort to access his personal email account.
«A skilled impersonator created something appearing just like Newsmax to attempt to do an interview with me,» Fine told Fox News Digital in an interview, explaining that his staffer began interacting with the message in email, as the office normally does, before realizing «the links didn’t work.»
The phishing scheme was allegedly designed to gain access to his personal Google account, Fine explained.
TRUMP SAYS ‘WE’VE GOT OUR EYES ON’ IRANIAN SLEEPER CELLS IN US
Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., leaves the U.S. Capitol after the last votes of the week on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
The incident comes after President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iran in February, sparking an ongoing battle that the president has said will end in a matter of weeks as tensions continue flaring. The Trump administration argued Iran’s nuclear program and missile capabilities posed an urgent threat ahead of the U.S. and Israel launching joint strikes.
Fine said he did not «think the timing was coincidental» and that the alleged cyberattack occurred «literally the day after combat operations began.» The episode underscores heightened concern among U.S. intelligence officials about potential cyber and physical threats tied to the U.S.-Iran conflict, particularly against high-profile political figures.
The FBI confirmed earlier in March that an Iran-linked hacker group known as the «Handala Hack Team» breached Director Kash Patel’s personal email account. A bureau spokesperson said in a statement at the time that while the compromised information was «historical in nature» and contained no government data, the FBI had taken all «necessary steps to mitigate potential risks.»
According to Fine, he learned about the alleged cyberattack aimed at him when U.S. Capitol Police contacted him and said the outreach likely originated from an Iranian state actor.
Fox News Digital reviewed a copy of the correspondence, showing its email was spelled «news-max.org.»
Correspondence to Fine, also reviewed by Fox News Digital, confirmed that USCP said they had information that the outreach to Fine’s office could have originated from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and that the police wanted to set up a call with the FBI Cyber Task Force to further examine the matter.
DHS REMAINS UNFUNDED AS IRAN SLEEPER CELL FEARS SPIKE NATIONWIDE AMID SECURITY WARNINGS
FBI Director Kash Patel listens during the Senate Committee on Intelligence hearings on Capitol Hill Wednesday, March 18, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
«They proactively reached out to us,» Fine said, adding that he then reported the incident to the FBI and was told by the bureau that agents were «familiar with these actors in Iran.»
The FBI declined to comment. A source familiar with the matter told Fox News Digital that when the incident happened, the FBI was able to connect with Fine and opened an investigation into the matter. The status of the probe is publicly unknown.
Fine emphasized that he felt targeted by Iran and noted a broader surge in threats against him, including verbal threats and what he said was a recent separate incident of an impersonator approaching his home.
«I was clearly targeted. It wasn’t random,» Fine said, asserting that he was «the most visible Jewish Republican politician in America.»
A billboard depicting Iran’s supreme leaders since 1979: (L to R) Ayatollahs Ruhollah Khomeini (until 1989), Ali Khamenei (until 2026), and Mojtaba Khamenei (incumbent) is displayed above a highway in Tehran. (AFP/Via Getty Images)
MYSTERY DRONES FLY NEAR DC-AREA MILITARY BASE AS IRAN TENSIONS ESCALATE
Fine said that while he does not believe the alleged attackers could have gathered much information from his Google account based on his limited use of it, «the worst-case scenario is … they might be able to track my actual location,» which he said made him fear for his life.
Fine described the incident as «very stressful.»
Fine, a self-described «Hebrew Hammer» known for his staunchly pro-Israel positions, has advocated aggressive military action in Gaza and praised Trump’s joint offensives with Israel in Iran.
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Fine, in a statement shortly after the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, characterized the mission as one rooted in saving western civilization.
«We are with you, Mr. President. We will cut off the head of the snake of Muslim terror, Bring lasting peace to the Middle East, And save the Iranian People. Bombs away,» Fine said. «The Muslim terrorists that run Iran have just indiscriminately fired rockets not just at the Jews of Israel, but 700,000 Americans who live there, 180,000 Christians who live there, at the ‘Dome of the Rock,’ the third holiest site in Islam, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, site of Jesus’s crucification. We are fighting back against this evil.»
Fox News Digital reached out to Newsmax, Google and USCP on Tuesday for any additional comment.
iran, war with iran, fbi, congress
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Exclusive: Sara Netanyahu warns of surging antisemitism and importance of Jewish-Christian alliance
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EXCLUSIVE: Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has warned about the growing dangers of antisemitism and attempts to undermine the relationship between Christian and Jewish communities.
Her remarks followed her four-day visit to the U.S. for the «Be Best» First Ladies’ Summit, attending at the invitation of First Lady Melania Trump.
In exclusive comments to Fox News Digital, she said extremist elements on both the far left and right continue to promote antisemitism despite the historical record of where it leads and are seeking to undermine Israel and divide support within the Christian community.
«Israel has never had a prime minister like my husband, who during every visit to the United States makes it a point to meet with leaders of the Christian community, embrace them, listen to them, and maintain a close and genuine relationship as true partners and friends,» she told Fox News Digital.
CHRISTIAN PASTORS, INFLUENCERS JOIN 1,000-STRONG ISRAEL MISSION BACKING JEWISH STATE, FIGHTING ANTISEMITISM
Sara Netanyahu, giving a speech at the State Department in Washington D.C. in March 2026. (GPO)
«Their courage in standing firm against the enemies of Israel is worthy of appreciation. They are our [unofficial] ambassadors, and I hope our partnership will continue to grow and strengthen,» she added.
Netanyahu said that in July, Israel hosted the president’s close adviser and White House Faith Office head, Paula White-Cain, for a special event attended by both her and the prime minister, which was broadcast to millions of Christian viewers worldwide.
Following Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, killing of 1,200 people in Israel, antisemitism surged globally, including in the U.S.
Sara Netanyahu was raised in Israel by her parents, Shmuel and Hava Ben-Artzi. Her father, a Bible scholar and educator, instilled in her an appreciation for the Jewish people’s historical connection to the land of Israel.
Pastor Paula White-Cain, spiritual adviser to President Donald Trump meets Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara at Daystar’s «Together As One» event in Jerusalem, as part of a visit organized by Niv Jacobi, President of The Meaning Channel. (Felipe Volokita, The Meaning Channel.)
«The Holocaust was a moment in history that cannot and will not be repeated,» Netanyahu told Fox News Digital, against the backdrop of the ongoing U.S.-Israel military operation against the Islamic Republic of Iran, whose leaders have repeatedly threatened to commit genocide against the Jewish state.
Post-Oct. 7 attacks include the May 2025 killing of two Israeli Embassy staff in Washington by Elias Rodriguez, who allegedly shouted «Free Palestine!» upon arrest, and a June attack by Mohamed Sabry Soliman that wounded 12 at a pro-Israel rally, later killing one victim.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SUES HARVARD OVER ALLEGED FAILURE TO PROTECT JEWISH AND ISRAELI STUDENTS, SEEKS BILLIONS
Incidents also rose after Operation Epic Fury began Feb. 28, described by Netanyahu as a preemptive move against Iran and its terror proxies.
President Donald Trump (L) poses for a photo with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) and his wife Sara Netanyahu during their meeting at Mar-a-Lago estate, in Palm Beach, Florida, United States on July 26, 2024. (Amos Ben-Gershom (GPO) / Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Investigators said Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, accused of attempting a March 12 attack on a Michigan synagogue, was radicalized by Hezbollah.
Meanwhile, a federal probe last month found some faculty «legitimized and amplified antisemitism» during protests against Israel’s war in Gaza. Encampments spread on campuses, often demanding divestment from Israel-linked institutions and Jewish organizations.
On March 20, the Trump administration sued Harvard, alleging it failed to protect Jewish and Israeli students and enabled antisemitism.
«We are in an existential war — a war of good versus evil — against a force that seeks to destroy Israel and the world,» she said.
«Leaders of the Iranian regime have publicly burned the flags of Israel and the United States. They have called Israel the ‘Little Satan’ and America the ‘Great Satan.’»
She continued, «Israel has never had a better friend than Donald Trump. Together with the [Israeli] prime minister, they are reshaping the Middle East and creating an opportunity for a new future for the entire free world,» she added.
Sara Netanyahu meet with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., at the U.S. Senate, March 2026. (Niv Jacobi )
During her U.S. visit, Netanyahu met with multiple first ladies, delivered a speech at the U.S. State Department, held talks with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., engaged with technology and AI companies and hosted a large meeting with parents of children serving in the Israel Defense Forces.
MELANIA TRUMP WELCOMES HUMANOID ROBOT TO WHITE HOUSE FOR HISTORIC AI SUMMIT
Netanyahu attended the «Be Best» First Ladies’ Summit, a global technology conference of first ladies hosted by Melania Trump, focused on expanding access to distance-learning technologies for children and teenagers.
Netanyahu, a child psychologist who works three times a week at the Jerusalem municipality, has immersed herself in the issue.
First Lady Melania Trump with Sara Netanyahu at The Be Best initiative in Washington D.C., March 2026. (Shmulik Almany )
The visit also carried economic implications, leading to expanded dialogue with Microsoft and Meta at the global level.
Netanyahu told Fox News Digital that companies expressed interest in advancing investments worth tens of millions of dollars to implement advanced AI models for remote learning among children and youth — particularly in Israel, where educational continuity has been disrupted by the security situation.
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«Israel is a leading country among advanced Western nations — in morality, values and certainly technology. Israeli innovation impacts people around the world every day in fields such as cybersecurity, fintech and agriculture. We contribute our knowledge and build strategic partnerships that bring Israel closer to its allies,» she said.
«There is strong appreciation for Israel worldwide, and when countries recognize our contributions, they choose partnership over extremism and hatred,» Netanyahu concluded.
anti semitism, israel, melania trump, national security, benjamin netanyahu
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