GOP lawmakers in Minnesota are not dropping their calls for Gov. Tim Walz to resign. (Getty Images)
"The Governor is taking the easy way out, but it’s not good enough," state Sen. Michael Holmstrom said in a statement. "Minnesotans deserve and demand an IMMEDIATE resignation."
"Governor Walz couldn’t take the FRAUD heat so he’s getting out of the kitchen, but I’m going to keep holding ALL Democrats accountable for Minnesota’s fraud mess, blowing through the entire $18 billion surplus, raising taxes by $10 billion, and making life less affordable for all Minnesotans while rejecting Republican efforts to stop fraud. I’ll keep exposing these failures and holding Democrats accountable for what they’ve done to Minnesotans."
Walz launched his bid for a third four-year term as Minnesota governor in September, but in recent weeks has been facing a barrage of incoming political fire from President Donald Trump and Republicans, and some Democrats, over the large-scale theft in a state that has long prided itself on good governance.
HOW FEARS OF BEING LABELED 'RACIST' HELPED 'PROVIDE COVER' FOR THE EXPLODING MINNESOTA FRAUD SCANDAL
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. (Bloomberg/Getty)
Word of their meeting comes amid speculation that Klobuchar, a former Hennepin County attorney who's been elected and re-elected four times to the U.S. Senate, may now run to succeed Walz.
"Make no mistake, I don’t want Tim Walz to be our governor," Minnesota Republican state Sen. Andrew Mathews said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "But rather than swapping Democrat governor candidates, I want to FIX the damage Gov. Walz has done: Blew through an $18 billion surplus, Raised taxes by $10 billion, Oversaw one of the largest fraud scandals in the country, Left Minnesota for months chasing a failed VP bid, Now decides to leave office."
"This isn’t accountability. It’s avoiding it."
Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/walz-decision-to-exit-governor-race-intensifies-calls-from-gop-lawmakers-for-his-resignation-easy-way-out