GOP Candidate Drops Out of Minnesota Governor’s Race

Republican Minnesota state Rep. Kristin Robbins announced Friday that she is dropping out of the gubernatorial race in the North Star State.

Robbins, who serves as the chair for Minnesota’s House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Committee, suspended her campaign as her state and current Gov. Tim Walz face continued scrutiny from the Trump administration in the wake of alleged widespread fraud.

“Our state government and political system are broken,” Robbins said in her announcement on X. “After fighting for Minnesotans from the inside for eight years, I have determined that the best way for me to fight for the future of our state is from the outside.”

The state representative added that the “establishment political class, media, and donors have anointed” Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), who is also running for governor of Minnesota, “despite her refusal to engage meaningfully on the issues that matter most.”

Robbins is finishing her fourth term serving Minnesota District 37A. In addition to chairing the House fraud committee, she also serves as co-chair for the Higher Education Finance and Policy Committee.

To help her state, Robbins said she believes it will take a “grassroots coalition of common-sense Minnesotans. … And that starts with our families, faith, and communities, not government.”

She vowed to find new ways to stay engaged in the state.

“Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty—and it is up to all of us, not just those who hold public office, to stand watch,” Robbins said.

Robbins’ campaign suspension comes about five months after Walz announced he would not seek reelection.

“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 in a post on X.

Walz and other Minnesota lawmakers have come under fire after alleged rampant fraud within the state’s child care system was exposed in late 2025.

The scandal continues to bring consequences to the state today.

Earlier this week, agents raided 22 Minnesota locations as part of ongoing fraud investigations.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) temporarily deferred $259 million to the state in wake of the scandal. On Thursday, CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz announced he was delaying payment of an additional $91 million in Medicaid claims for Minnesota.

Minnesota sued Oz’s agency and the Department of Health and Human Services over the initial withholding of funds, but earlier in April, a federal court refused to unfreeze the funds as litigation continues.

The Justice Department announced in December nearly 100 arrests in connection to alleged fraud in Minnesota, which officials have said dates back more than a decade and involves more than $9 billion in wasted taxpayer money. The majority of those suspects are of Somali descent.

In an April 17 newsletter, Robbins expressed concern about state agencies’ continued lackadaisical behavior and little accountability when officials fail to properly fight waste, fraud, and abuse.

“Instead, they talked about how they will provide additional training and support,” Robbins said. “The most important element in preventing fraud is creating a no fraud, no excuses culture.”

Minnesota’s gubernatorial primary is Aug. 11, and the general election is Nov. 3.

Several other GOP candidates remain in the governor’s race, including President Donald Trump ally and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.