MINNEAPOLIS (AP) 鈥� Had history turned out differently, Tim Walz might be about to begin his second year as vice president. Instead, the Minnesota governor is thinking about going back to teaching geography.
鈥淲hat I鈥檓 really good at is, I鈥檓 a really good geography teacher,鈥� Walz said with a laugh at a press conference Tuesday. 鈥淚 think that鈥檚 something where I would find the joy in, in getting back in there, trying to teach.鈥�
Before Walz ran for Congress and later governor, he was a at Mankato West High School in southern Minnesota.
Walz鈥檚 political future looked bright in 2024 when his legislative successes and helped entice Kamala Harris to as her running mate. Though they lost, Walz was still seen as a rising star within the Democratic Party 鈥� even a for 2028.
But Walz, who has come under fire for failing to prevent massive on his watch, on Monday for a as governor.
He told reporters Tuesday that he doesn鈥檛 know what his future holds, except that he plans to run some marathons and defend the title that he won in his age division in a shorter 鈥淭urkey Trot鈥� race on Thanksgiving. He said he also expects to be tied up for the next year with trying to fight off the of Minnesota, including a into the state.
鈥淟ook, I got a year of work to do here. I think it will be the most challenging year, and that includes probably COVID,鈥� he said, referring to how he spent much of 2020 leading the state鈥檚 response to the coronavirus pandemic. 鈥淚 caution Minnesotans, this is going to get worse before it gets better. 鈥� For me, I鈥檓 going to do this work.鈥�
Walz also highlighted one of his proudest accomplishments in office, the Jan. 1 launch of a program, which the Legislature passed in 2023 after Democrats took full control of the statehouse for two years.
Walz and his allies used the relatively rare break in Minnesota鈥檚 usual to enacted by Minnesota Republicans, for transgender youth and The list of Democratic priorities they enacted also included for all students and measures.
Dan Hofrenning, a political scientist at St. Olaf College, said he thinks the end of Walz鈥檚 candidacy for governor is probably the end of his career in elected office.
鈥淥ne never says never on political futures, but two-term governor, vice presidential candidate, that鈥檚 a pretty good run,鈥� Hofrenning said. 鈥淎nd at the end of that run, pulling out of the race is a recognition that he had some strong political vulnerabilities.鈥�
Had Walz lost, Hofrenning said, his reputation would have been further tarnished. But Walz now has the chance to move into an 鈥渆lder statesman role,鈥� he said. Walz could be a potential cabinet secretary or ambassador if a Democrat wins the 2028 presidential race, he said.
University of Minnesota political scientist Larry Jacobs wasn鈥檛 ready to write Walz off just yet. He said the governor is a 鈥渧ery talented politician who brings some unique skill sets鈥� to the Democratic Party.
鈥淎fter you pull out like this, it鈥檚 easy to say 鈥榥o future鈥� because he鈥檚 going out on a downer, and it looks like he has his tail between his legs, but I think that might be shortsighted,鈥� Jacobs said. 鈥淭here could be a spot in a year or two when this has blown over a bit and he鈥檚 got an opportunity, perhaps, to run for U.S. Senate.鈥�
But Jacobs isn鈥檛 sure that becoming a cabinet secretary is in the cards for Walz.
鈥淚 think his stay in the national scene as a VP candidate didn鈥檛 leave him in high standing,鈥� Jacobs said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a real perception of him as kind of out of his league.鈥�
Walz earns about $127,000 a year as governor and has listed his main assets as his pension and other retirement plans. A in 2024 put his and his wife鈥檚 net worth at $800,000. with an estimate of just over $1 million, but said he was 鈥渢he least wealthy politician on a major party ticket鈥� that election cycle.
鈥淗e鈥檚 going to need employment. Maybe he finds himself a new niche, maybe in the foundation world,鈥� Jacobs said. 鈥淏ut I don鈥檛 think this is a guy who鈥檚 going to retire in the near future.鈥�
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