Tim Walz, Minnesota’s governor and former 2024 Democratic vice-presidential candidate, announces his decision to end his bid for a third term to focus on governing amid scrutiny over state child care programs and related fraud allegations amplified by national figures.

Reaction to Walz’s announcement pours in from national and state leaders, praising his service and signaling continued political engagement in the race.

The announcement was delivered in a statement on Monday, with Barrow reporting from Atlanta for the AP.

PBS NewsHour is the source outlet for the piece, with AP reporting and a correspondent in Atlanta credited.

Initial state findings indicate daycare centers accused of fraud are still operating normally, as investigations continue.

Prosecutors describe a broad fraud landscape, noting hundreds of convictions or charges and substantial estimated costs to taxpayers, including a significant concern over federal funds misappropriation tied to programs since 2018.

The Republican field in Minnesota’s race remains crowded, featuring Speaker of the House Lisa Demuth, Rep. Kristin Robbins, Dr. Scott Jensen, and Kendall Qualls.

Barrow filed the report from Atlanta, providing journalistic context for the Associated Press coverage.

The article invites viewers to watch Walz’s full statement and the live news conference for more details.

The reporting includes timestamped updates tracking evolving reactions and developments throughout the day.

(No content provided in source for this point.)

The report emphasizes this is a developing story with no confirmed successors or definitive campaign plans yet.