Democratic US Senator Amy Klobuchar has said she is running for governor in her home state of Minnesota amid the tumult of an ongoing immigration crackdown. In a video released on Thursday, she called for unity across all parties, billing herself as someone who could heal political divisions and was 'willing to find common ground'. Her candidacy comes after the incumbent governor, Tim Walz, announced he would end his re-election campaign early amid criticism of his handling of a fraud scandal in the state.
Klobuchar, a four-term senator, reportedly delayed her announcement after federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, two weeks after they also killed another US citizen, Renee Good. These killings and other altercations have put the tactics and use of force by federal agents under intense scrutiny, especially given the criticism directed at the current federal immigration operations, which have been captured in viral social media videos. Klobuchar emphasized in her video, 'We cannot sugarcoat how hard this is. But in these moments of enormous difficulty, we find strength in our Minnesota values of hard work, freedom, and simple decency and goodwill.'
She also addressed other incidents of violence that have rocked her state in recent months, including the murder of a state lawmaker and the deadly shooting of two children inside a church. Political observers see her centrist approach as a departure from the more combative rhetoric of other Democratic contenders, potentially positioning her as a frontrunner for the upcoming primary elections. Klobuchar has committed to rooting out fraud in state operations and ensuring accountability for those who misuse taxpayer money.
Klobuchar, a four-term senator, reportedly delayed her announcement after federal agents fatally shot Alex Pretti, two weeks after they also killed another US citizen, Renee Good. These killings and other altercations have put the tactics and use of force by federal agents under intense scrutiny, especially given the criticism directed at the current federal immigration operations, which have been captured in viral social media videos. Klobuchar emphasized in her video, 'We cannot sugarcoat how hard this is. But in these moments of enormous difficulty, we find strength in our Minnesota values of hard work, freedom, and simple decency and goodwill.'
She also addressed other incidents of violence that have rocked her state in recent months, including the murder of a state lawmaker and the deadly shooting of two children inside a church. Political observers see her centrist approach as a departure from the more combative rhetoric of other Democratic contenders, potentially positioning her as a frontrunner for the upcoming primary elections. Klobuchar has committed to rooting out fraud in state operations and ensuring accountability for those who misuse taxpayer money.
