“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 Monday.

The departure of the incumbent governor opened the floodgates for his opponents in the gubernatorial race that will take place this year. Minnesota state Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican candidate for governor, used the announcement to assure Minnesota voters that she can “deliver” what Walz couldn’t.

“If Democrats think they can sweep Minnesota’s fraud scandal away by swapping out Tim Walz, they are wrong,” Demuth wrote on X Monday. “Every Democrat in Minnesota has spent years enabling criminals who stole our tax dollars, with still no meaningful accountability and no end in sight to the billions in fraud that still plagues nearly every government program imaginable thanks to 16 years of Democrat control.”

“We need transformational change across state government that only comes with a Republican governor,” Demuth added.

Fellow Republican candidate Kendall Qualls also called for change in Minnesota.

“Walz’s time as governor has been a total failure. But it doesn’t matter if the [Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party] props up Amy Klobuchar or any other candidate, it will be a new face on top of the same failed policies that put Minnesota on the brink of disaster,” Qualls wrote on X Monday. “We need something different, a political outsider and not a career politician, to save our state.”

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who is also running for Minnesota governor, appeared on his own news program to respond.

“He’s either the most incompetent governor in history, that didn’t pay attention to things that were going on, or he’s hiding something,” Lindell said. “Maybe this will expose a lot of stuff.”

YouTuber Nick Shirley took credit for Walz dropping out. Shirley, a native Utahn, filmed a video of himself visiting allegedly fraudulent day cares that went viral online.

“I ENDED TIM WALZ,” Shirley wrote on X Monday.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk also chimed in, after drawing attention to the welfare scandal in Minnesota. 

“And so we bid adieu or whatever they say in Somali to Traitor Tim,” Musk wrote on X, referencing the Somali residents who have taken advantage of the state’s welfare funds.

President Donald Trump also responded to the news on Truth Social: “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 [Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN)], and others of his Somali friends, stealing Tens of Billions of Taxpayer Dollars. I feel certain the facts will come out, and they will reveal a seriously unscrupulous, and rich, group of ‘SLIMEBALLS.’ Governor Walz has destroyed the State of Minnesota, but others, like Governor Gavin Newscum [the president’s nickname for California Gov. Gavin Newsom], [Illinois Gov.] JB Pritzker, and [New York Gov.] Kathy Hochul, have done, in my opinion, an even more dishonest and incompetent job. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!”

Republican House Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN) also commented on Walz dropping his reelection campaign.

“My official statement: GOOD RIDDANCE!” Emmer wrote on X Monday.

Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) blamed the fraud for Walz dropping out.

“Governor Walz’s decision to not seek re-election is the only acceptable outcome after the large-scale fraud that was permitted under his watch. His career is ending because Walz and the democrats allowed Minnesota to become a national playground for fraudsters, and his radical negligence has cost Minnesotans billions,” Fischbach wrote on X Monday.

“The era of looking the other way is over. Minnesota Democrats: Take note. We are coming for accountability and will continue to investigate until every stolen dollar is accounted for,” Fischbach added.

Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) suggested Walz should have resigned from office completely in a Monday X post.

“Governor Walz’s decision not to seek reelection doesn’t let him off the hook. Minnesotans deserve to see full accountability,” Staber wrote. “Tim Walz is playing the victim and blaming Republicans for his disaster. If Walz was serious about stopping fraud, he would IMMEDIATELY stop stonewalling the Administration and COOPERATE with federal investigations.”

Rep. Brad Finstad (R-MN) expressed his hope for a Republican governor this next election.

“Unfortunately, it will take years to undo the damage [Walz] has done to the state of Minnesota. The next Governor of Minnesota will have a massive task ahead of them to root out systemic waste, fraud and abuse,” Finstad wrote on X Monday. “I am committed to working with my fellow Minnesotans to ensure we elect a Republican governor who will restore trust in state government and the reputation of our great state.”

Still, Walz had some allies in Congress. Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) shared her gratitude for Walz stepping down.

“I’m grateful to Governor Walz for his service to our state and always putting Minnesotans first. It’s never been about him – and once again he proved that today,” Craig wrote on X Monday. “The DFL must nominate the strongest possible candidate in every race on the ballot in November and stop Donald Trump and Republicans’ relentless attacks on Minnesotans and on who we are as a nation.”

Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) said that Walz’s announcement was an example of the governor “putting people first.”

“Governor Walz’s decision to not seek re-election is what it looks like when leaders put the interests of the people before politics,” Smith wrote on X Monday. “In the face of an unprecedented and coordinated attack on Minnesota by President Trump and his administration, the Governor is once again doing the right thing. I’m grateful for Governor Walz’s service and I will always support him.”

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), who reportedly spoke to Walz before his announcement, also emphasized the difficulty of the decision.

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“Governor Walz made the difficult decision to focus on his job and the challenges facing our state rather than campaigning and running for reelection,” Klobuchar wrote on X. “He has always dedicated his career to delivering for Minnesota — from providing school breakfast and lunches to our kids to passing gun safety legislation to maintaining our state’s AAA bond rating. He is a true public servant.”

Walz is nearing the end of his second term as governor.