False Report Alleges Tim Walz Out as Minnesota Governor

Some states require elected officials to resign before running for another office. That’s not the case with Minnesota, despite claims Walz stepped down.

On Aug. 6, Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate.

Following the announcement, a viral Facebook post claimed that now that Walz is running for vice president, he’s no longer governor of Minnesota, and the position has been filled by his lieutenant governor, Peggy Flanagan.

Other people online questioned if Walz has to step down as governor now that he’s on Harris’ presidential ticket.

THE QUESTION

Did Tim Walz step down as Minnesota’s governor so he could run for vice president?

THE ANSWER

No, Tim Walz didn’t step down as Minnesota’s governor so he could run for vice president.

WHAT WE FOUND

Tim Walz is still the governor of Minnesota and Peggy Flanagan is still the lieutenant governor. The Facebook post saying Walz had to step down because he is running for vice president is false.

Minnesota doesn’t have any laws, known as resign-to-run laws, which require elected officials to leave their current elected position before running for a different elected position. That means Walz is still governor while running for vice president.

However, if Walz and Harris win the election in November, he will have to resign before inauguration day, Jan. 20, 2025. According to Section 4.06(a) of the Minnesota Statute, when a vacancy occurs in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor shall become governor. This means Peggy Flanagan would take over as governor, making her the first woman and the first Native American to hold the office in Minnesota history.

If Harris and Walz lose, Walz will remain Minnesota’s governor until his term expires.

Five states—Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Texas, and Hawaii—have resign-to-run laws, though the specifics vary. Florida exempts presidential and vice-presidential candidates from this requirement. Georgia requires resignation to qualify for any other elected office. In Hawaii, an official cannot run for another office if the new term starts before the old one ends. Texas’ law generally applies to certain local offices but not the governor. Arizona mandates resignation unless an official is in the final year of their term.

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