ST PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota’s Governor, Tim Walz, who is also the Democratic contender for vice president in the 2024 election, has decided to withdraw from his campaign for a third gubernatorial term, just under four months since he announced his intention to run again.

In a statement released on Monday, Walz expressed confidence in his potential for reelection but revealed a change of heart, citing an inability to fully commit to the campaign after an “extraordinarily difficult year for our state.”

The 61-year-old governor pointed to ongoing probes into fraud within state-run child care programs as a significant factor. He noted that former President Donald Trump has leveraged this issue as a political weapon.

“Donald Trump and his allies – whether in Washington, St. Paul, or online – aim to transform our state into a harsher, less welcoming place,” Walz remarked, highlighting the Trump administration’s decision to withhold funding for these programs. “Their goal is to sow division among our people by turning us against each other. Ultimately, they wish to strip away much of what makes Minnesota the ideal place to raise a family.”

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Barrow reported from Atlanta.