MINNEAPOLIS — Tim Walz won a second term as Minnesota governor on Tuesday night, defeating Republican opponent Scott Jensen and cementing Democratic control of the executive branch for the longest consecutive period in state history.
Walz's win defied a challenging midterm environment for his party and followed a tumultuous first term, where he contended with a COVID-19 pandemic and the destruction in Minneapolis that followed George Floyd's killing. Over the next four years, the Democrat will wield influence over the biggest issues facing the state, including how to spend a historic multibillion-dollar budget surplus.
"Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan faced unprecedented challenges during their time in office, but they led Minnesota with courage, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of all Minnesotans," DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin said shortly after the race was called.
-copy-29e15046.jpeg?w=600)
