Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz stunned reporters, declaring he would “rather eat glass” than take over for Amy Klobuchar in the U.S. Senate if she wins the governor’s race.
Walz made the quip while heading to the podium at a press conference on Tuesday, brushing off speculation about a potential Senate appointment.
“The context was Eric asked me if I would like to fill out Sen. Klobuchar’s Senate term, and I said, ‘I would rather eat glass than do that,’” Walz told reporters.
The comment lands as Minnesota braces for a high-stakes gubernatorial election in November. Walz announced earlier this year that he will not seek reelection, citing a growing social services fraud controversy in the state.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he would rather "eat glass" when asked if he would fill Sen. Amy Klobuchar's Senate seat if she were to be elected governor. pic.twitter.com/L33wPMEsKE
— FOX 9 (@FOX9) February 17, 2026
Klobuchar entered the race at the end of January and is widely viewed as the frontrunner to succeed him.
If Klobuchar wins the governor’s mansion, her Senate seat would open. Under Minnesota law, either she or Walz would appoint a temporary replacement before a special election fills the vacancy.
Klobuchar launched her campaign amid a sweeping federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota that left two residents dead.
Federal agents shot and killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti during the Department of Homeland Security’s “Operation Metro Surge,” sparking weeks of protests and political fallout.
“Minnesotans, we’ve been through a lot,” Klobuchar wrote on X alongside her campaign video. “And I believe this moment calls for grit, resilience, and faith in each other.
Minnesotans, we’ve been through a lot.
And I believe this moment calls for grit, resilience, and faith in each other.
I believe we must stand up for what’s right. And fix what’s wrong.
Today, I’m announcing my candidacy for Governor. pic.twitter.com/yVnbvmMyxO
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) January 29, 2026
“I believe we must stand up for what’s right. And fix what’s wrong,” she added.
Walz has spent the past month clashing with the Trump administration over the operation, which deployed thousands of federal agents across the state.
He and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have demanded that the federal government cover the financial damage tied to the surge.
“The federal government needs to pay for what they broke here. There [is] going to be accountability on the things that happened, but one of the things is the incredible and immense costs that were borne by the people of this state,” Walz said.
“The federal government needs to be responsible. You don’t get to break things and then just leave without doing something about it,” he added, saying he would ask Minnesota’s congressional delegation to pursue reimbursement.
🚨 VENEZUELAN DICTATOR NICOLAS MADURO IN U.S. CUSTODY 🚨 Do you AGREE Trump made America STRONG again??? ➡️➡️➡️ TAKE THE FREEDOM POLL NOW and stand with President Trump!!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Walz has proposed a $10 million emergency relief package for small businesses hit during the crackdown. The plan calls for forgivable loans between $2,500 and $25,000 for businesses that can demonstrate “substantial revenue loss” during specific dates tied to the operation.
“The campaign of retribution by the federal administration has been more than a short-term disruption; it has inflicted long-term damage on Minnesota communities,” Walz argued in a statement.
“Recovery will not happen overnight. Families, workers, and business owners are feeling the effects, and our responsibility is clear: we will help rebuild, stabilize these businesses, protect jobs, and ensure Minnesota’s economy can recover and thrive.”
The financial strain comes as Minnesota faces its own internal controversy. Fraudsters have stolen as much as $18 billion from taxpayer-funded social services programs under state oversight, intensifying scrutiny of leadership in St. Paul.
Minneapolis leaders estimate the economic toll from the immigration operation alone exceeds $203 million. Frey told Minnesota Public Radio he hopes state and federal governments will help shoulder the burden.
“I’m not naive to think that we’re going to get the entire amount,” Frey said, noting roughly 76,000 Minneapolis residents require some form of relief.
City estimates include $47 million in lost wages for residents who were “afraid to leave home” for work, $81 million in small business revenue losses and $4.7 million from hotel cancellations.
Trump border czar Tom Homan announced last Thursday that “Operation Metro Surge” would wind down, with agents departing the state through the following week.
Homan signaled that federal reimbursement was unlikely during an appearance on “Fox & Friends.”
“A lot of things were broken, but it wasn’t because of Trump administration,” Homan said Sunday.
He also questioned whether Walz criticized the southern border during the tenure of his former running mate, Kamala Harris.
“Did Governor Walz speak out against that — with the overdose deaths and sex trafficking and terrorists? No.”
Despite the friction, Homan struck a more conciliatory tone in a separate interview on Sunday, crediting Walz and Frey for cooperating on immigration enforcement.
Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Homan said he met with the Democratic leaders because progress requires engagement.
“You can’t fix problems talking in an echo chamber; you got to talk to the people that you may disagree with,” he told Jake Tapper.
Homan admitted he did not expect to reach agreements in Minnesota.
“I’ve gotten agreements in Minnesota I never thought we’d be able to get. And I got to give credit to the governor, we had a good conversation.”
He explained that cooperation from Walz led to state prisons sharing information about non-citizen inmates with federal immigration authorities. Homan also praised Frey’s response to unrest.
“And Mayor Frey and me will never agree on much, but you know what? His officers did respond to take down illegal roadblocks that made it unsafe for not only the citizens of Minnesota, but our officers,” Homan said.
He framed internal debate as a strength rather than a liability.
“Do me and secretary Noem agree on everything? No, We have discussions and we have different opinions. That’s what makes it a strong team. We bring different ideas to the table.”
