Minnesota House candidate Ben Bugbee speaks on governor race

January 5 article.

Today, Ben Bugbee, Republican candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 13A, responded to Governor Tim Walz's announcement that he will not seek a third term in office.

"Frankly, this decision comes as no surprise," Bugbee said. "Over the past eight years, Governor Walz abandoned his promise of 'One Minnesota' and instead governed in service of progressive ideology, leaving rural Minnesota ignored and undervalued."

Bugbee pointed to what he described as a pattern of fiscal mismanagement and oversight failures during the Walz administration.

"His handling of a historic eighteen billion dollar budget surplus, record tax increases, and widespread agency failures has tarnished Minnesota's reputation and eroded public trust," Bugbee said. "An historic surplus was spent, taxes were raised, and Minnesotans were left facing looming deficits and an increasingly bloated bureaucracy."

Bugbee also cited the Feeding Our Future scandal and other oversight failures as emblematic of one-party rule in St. Paul.

"This was the result of a DFL trifecta that fast-tracked sweeping policy changes without accountability or common sense," Bugbee said. "From rushed marijuana legalization and expansive gun control measures to taxpayer-funded benefits for undocumented immigrants and unchecked government expansion, Minnesotans were left paying the price."

While Bugbee acknowledged that Walz's decision marks the end of an era, he emphasized that the broader policy direction remains unchanged.

"The Walz administration may be coming to a close, but the agenda behind it is not," Bugbee said. "Our work has just begun. We must reverse the damage of the past decade and restore leadership that understands rural Minnesota, respects work and family, supports small businesses, and governs responsibly."

Bugbee is seeking the Republican endorsement in House District 13A, a seat currently held by Speaker Lisa Demuth, who has announced her candidacy for Governor in the 2026 general election.

"I am running to ensure rural values and common sense have a strong voice in St. Paul once again," Bugbee said. "It's time for serious leadership and a renewed sense of pride in the state we are working to rebuild."