Whither Klink?
By Mitch Berg
The Piglet can’t be happy about this latest Star-Tribune poll:
Gov. Tim Walz’s approval rating has dipped below 50% since his failed run for vice president last year, and about half of Minnesotans say he shouldn’t run for a third consecutive term in 2026, according to a new poll. The results suggest the DFL governor could face headwinds if he runs for re-election again, particularly from voters in greater Minnesota and the suburbs outside Hennepin and Ramsey counties. He also faces opposition from a majority of independents who disapprove of his performance.
The new Star Tribune/Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication Minnesota Poll found 49% approve of Walz’s performance and 50% disapprove. A previous Minnesota Poll conducted last September found 53% of Minnesotans approved of Walz’s performance while 44% disapproved.
It’s only the second time Walz’s approval rating has fallen below 50% in the Minnesota Poll.\
It’s hard to read much history into this “Minnesota” Poll; the poll has changed hands so many times since its heyday from 1989-2012.
But this is not great news for Walz.
I don’t expect him to go out without a fight, of course; he – or Gwen – palpably craves national office. The question is, given:
- the extraordinary nature of a third term as governor
- Walz’s unpopularity (which I’m going to guess is worse than even this latest re-dressing of the MN Poll shows, becasue that’s never a bad bet)
- The emergence of other contenders in the DFL – radicals like Peggy Flanagan (who’s terribly overmatched in her Senate race against Angie Craig), and relative moderates like Dean Philips…
…will the Tim Walz brand support another run?
I suspect we’re going to see a huge reconstruction effort. Which I frankly hope succeeds, at least through DFL convention season.
Postscript: wouldn’t now be a great time for the MNGOP to suspend its circular firing squad and actually focus on fundraising and fighting a campaign?
June 26th, 2025 at 7:48 am
Fearless prediction: Piglet will run for third term and win in a landslide since country bumpkins, who either left your miserable state or resigned to their fate, will not show up at the polls. Piglet will see it as a mandate and double down on taxation of country bumpkins and will build more choo choo trains. MNGOP will not only maintain its circular firing squad position but will start issuing live rounds and move to the left providing no real alternative to libturds.
I hope I am wrong.
June 26th, 2025 at 8:40 am
I don’t think JPA is correct about the landslide, but I think even an unpopular Walz will still win next fall.
Even the Democrats that dislike him will “come home” in November, so his approval with DFL voters only matters for the Endorsement and the Primary.
Depending on who the GOP nominates, we’ll see how much of that base stays home of defects elsewhere out of spite (though I don’t think there will be much defection TO Walz, some 3rd Party candidates could get an extra point or two).
The big question those swing voters in the suburbs that acknowledge Walz’s failures. Do they stay pissed at Trump and vote Walz anyways? Do they just stay home? Do they realize that a vote for a GOP Governor IS NOT a vote for Trump?
I remain pessimistic about 2026 and the MN GOP.
June 26th, 2025 at 9:23 am
Don’t you think Walz’ chances depend on which Literally Hitler the Republicans run against him?
Wait . . . forget I asked that.
June 26th, 2025 at 9:51 am
JPA for the win!
The outstate DFL “Grassroots” prep & training currently underway will ensure that piglet gets his landslide/mandate. For the DFL, recapturing CD8 is imperative – so watch where their “voter development” efforts are taking place in small towns and rural counties.
June 26th, 2025 at 10:07 am
Whatta load of… I’m a country bumpkin in outstate MN. We have neither moved nor resigned ourselves to “our fate”.
The reason the DemoCommies consistently do well in MN that more than 60% of Minnesotans (about 3.71 million) live in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area. Between the actual commies in the Cities, their AWFL allies in the suburbs, the small enclaves of the same in Rochester, Duluth, et al, as well as their well-practiced and shameless propensity to manipulate vote counts, they put up the statewide vote counts they need.
This situation is, in fact, repeated in IL, GA, CA, NY and I’m sure others (https://instapundit.com/728550/). I would be interested to know exactly how this situation is the fault of the MNGOP (and us country bumpkins)?
And then, how would you resolve it? I’ll even give you a f’r’instance. What was the problem with Jensen and Birk in ’22?
June 26th, 2025 at 10:35 am
Two things: One as to the circular firing squad–the GOP can’t help themselves. Since they can’t win elections they tear into themselves. Exhibit A that Jake guy.
Two, they have no bench depth. The dems have their training grounds. District councils in St. Paul, school boards, county boards etc. GOP has bupkis. Who have they got for gov? The SOS, AG? could someone please tell me what the heck the GOP leadership is doing to win elections????????
June 26th, 2025 at 11:12 am
In my humble opinion, you need a new law. “Democrats are fungible”
June 26th, 2025 at 11:15 am
My thought is that if the GOP does not go too extreme, they have an excellent chance of capturing moderate voters and winning the election–if they can do that without losing voters who truly think that tallow is a better fat than canola oil. That remains to be determined.
June 26th, 2025 at 2:34 pm
Helps the DFL when anyone can vote in this state. Must be a coincidence that where voters have to prove who they are, the Democrats tend to not do as well.
June 27th, 2025 at 7:51 am
If everyone is supposed to “turn down the rhetotic” now that kinda takes all that Walz has in his quiver. He can’t discuss the success in his state, he can’t discuss the success of his party. All he can do is rant.
June 28th, 2025 at 1:12 am
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