What Would it Mean for Minnesota if Tim Walz Becomes Vice President?
By Sullivan Rice
With Minnesota Governor Tim Walz selected as the vice presidential candidate alongside Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, many Minnesotans are wondering what this would mean for the state's government.
Does Walz Need to Step Down to Run?
No, under Minnesota state law, Governor Walz can continue to serve as governor while running for vice president. Unlike some states with “resign-to-run” laws requiring officeholders to resign before seeking another office, Minnesota does not have such a provision.
If the Harris-Walz ticket is defeated by former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance, Walz would remain as governor, completing his current term, which ends in January 2027. He could also seek re-election in 2026 if he wishes. However, if Harris and Walz win, Walz could resign anytime between the election and the inauguration on January 20, 2025.
Who Becomes Governor if Walz is Elected Vice President?
If the Harris-Walz ticket is successful and Walz resigns, Minnesota's executive branch will undergo significant changes. According to state law, the lieutenant governor assumes the governor’s role in the event of a vacancy. This means Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan would become the first woman to serve as governor in Minnesota and the first Native American woman to hold the office in the U.S. (two men with Native American heritage have served as governor in Oklahoma).
With Flanagan becoming governor, the "last duly elected president of the senate" would then become lieutenant governor. Currently, that position is held by Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, who would be the state’s first Black lieutenant governor. Champion’s move to lieutenant governor would nullify the DFL’s one-seat majority in the Minnesota Senate, necessitating a special election to fill his seat.
When Was the Last Time the Governor’s Office Was Vacant?
The last vacancy in the governor's office occurred in 1976 when DFL Gov. Wendell Anderson resigned, and his successor, Gov. Rudy Perpich, nominated Anderson to a U.S. Senate seat following Walter Mondale's election as vice president.
The most recent lieutenant governor vacancy happened in 2018 when Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to the U.S. Senate after Sen. Al Franken resigned. This created a unique situation where a Republican, then-State Sen. Michelle Fischbach, was elevated to serve under a DFL governor, leading to controversy when Fischbach retained her Senate seat until the legislative session concluded.
Minnesota’s VP Club
If elected vice president, Tim Walz would join a distinguished group of Minnesotans who have held the office. He would follow in the footsteps of Hubert H. Humphrey, vice president under President Lyndon Johnson (1965-1969), and Walter Mondale, who served under President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981). Like Walz, both Humphrey and Mondale were Democrats.
For Minnesotans, Governor Walz's potential elevation to vice president carries significant implications for state leadership and political dynamics, marking a historic period of change and continuity in Minnesota’s governance.
