Governor Tim Walz

Natalie Hudson was the state’s first Black chief justice. Gov. Tim Walz appointed her as chief justice in 2023. Walz’s office said details about who will succeed Hudson are forthcoming.

The hearing took place amid the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and a weeks-long partial shutdown of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as Democrats try to force changes to the administration’s immigration policy.

The package has 18 proposals, including prohibiting legislators from making direct appropriations to nonprofits and establishing a centralized Office of Inspector General.

Minneapolis businesses are estimated to have lost $10 to $20 million in sales each week of Operation Metro Surge, which began in December 2025.

Walz gave an address Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, as the state confronts a surge of 2,000-3,000 agents, and widespread reports of violence against citizens and immigrants alike.

He was especially heated about Trump amplifying a conspiracy theory that the governor was involved in the assassination of former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband.

As Gov. Tim Walz withdraws from the race, there's already speculation that U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar may launch a campaign as the DFL candidate for governor.

In his statement, Walz defended his record combating fraud and said “an organized group of political actors” is taking advantage of the crisis.

Officials cast doubt on a federal prosecutor’s estimate that fraud in state-run Medicaid programs since 2018 could total over $9 billion.

Providers in 14 “high-risk,” state-run Medicaid programs being audited by the state have billed $18 billion since 2018, and “half or more” is possibly fraudulent, Joe Thompson said.