>> CATHY: ONE OF THE BUSIEST AND HEAVIEST WEEKS IN MINNESOTA POLITICS BEGAN WITH NEWS THAT GOVERNOR WALZ ABANDONED HIS CAMPAIGN FOR RE-ELECTION.

MARY LAHAMMER TAKES US THROUGH THE TUMULTUOUS WEEK IN STATE POLITICS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

>> Mary: THE GOVERNOR'S GUILDED RECEPTION ROOM WAS PACKED WITH PRESS AND ANTICIPATION FOR INFORMATION ON WHY GOVERNOR WALZ DECIDED NOT TO RUN AGAIN.

>> I WANT MINNESOTANS TO KNOW HOW GRATEFUL I AM FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THIS STATE, FOR THE PRIVILEGE THAT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO SERVE IN THIS OFFICE.

>> Mary: WITH THE FIRST LADY LOOKING ON, THE EMOTION OF THE MOMENT HAD HIM STICK TO READING A STATEMENT.

>> I'M ON THE JOB, I'M FOCUSED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE STAY AMERICA'S BEST PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE KIDS.

NO ONE WILL TAKE THAT AWAY FROM US.

I'M PROUD OF THE WAY WE TREAT OUR NEIGHBORS.

I'M PROUD OF THE WAY THAT WE WELCOME PEOPLE TO THIS STATE.

I'M PROUD OF THE WAY THAT WE INNOVATE.

AND I'M PROUD OF THE WAY THAT WE ARE OPTIMISTS FOR THE FUTURE.

NO ONE'S TAKING THIS AWAY FROM US.

NOT THE FRAUDSTERS.

CERTAINLY NOT THIS PRESIDENT.

NOT ON MY WATCH.

>> Mary: WITH THAT, WALZ REFUSED TO TAKE QUESTIONS.

WHILE THE BULK OF HIS PREPARED REMARKS FOCUSED ON FIGHTING FRAUD, HIS SON, THE TARGET OF TOXIC ONLINE HARASSMENT AND BULLYING, SINCE HIS OUTPOURING OF AFFECTION AT THE DNC, POSTED THAT HIS DAD IS NOT RUNNING BECAUSE OF PERSONAL ATTACKS ON THEIR FAMILY DAY IN AND DAY OUT.

>> WE'RE ON A TYPICAL MIDWESTERN MORNING RUN HERE.

>> Mary: HIS DAUGHTER, HOPE, HAD TAKEN A BREAK FROM HER SIZABLE SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCE, DUE TO THREATS.

>> E TREAT OUR NEIGHBORS WITH RESPECT AND WELCOME PEOPLE TO THIS STATE.

DEMOCRATS WILL WIN THIS SEAT.

THEY WILL KEEP A PROGRESSIVE AGENDA.

WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING AGAINST THIS WHITE HOUSE AND THESE UNCONSTITUTIONAL ACTS.

>> AND I'M JUST GETTING STARTED.

I AM NOW BEING LET LOOSE BECAUSE OF THIS, PEOPLE.

SO GOOD LUCK, DONALD TRUMP AND ALL THE REPUBLICANS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE LAST OF ME OR HIM, TO E QUITE HONEST.

>> Mary: A DAY AFTER HIS BIG ANNOUNCEMENT, GOVERNOR WALZ TOOK QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA, AFTER AN EVENT REGARDING THE ROLLOUT OF THE NEW PAID FAMILY LEAVE PROGRAM.

>> I'VE STOOD IN FRONT OF HE PRESS MORE THAN ANY GOVERNOR IN MINNESOTA HISTORY.

>> Mary: WALZ WAS TOUGH ON THE PRESS AND THE PRESIDENT, AND ATTACKS AGAINST HIS FAMILY.

>> THAT IS FRICKIN' EVIL.

AND EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THIS ROOM KNOWS IT'S EVIL.

AND THAT TYPE OF HATE AND THOSE TYPES OF THREATS THAT ARE ACTIONABLE, YES, AND, LOOK, I'M CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY, BUT I'VE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF PROTECTION NOW, MY FAMILY, NOT SO MUCH.

>> Mary: WALZ KNOWS HIS MEETING WITH SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR SET OFF SPECULATION OF HER LAUNCHING A RUN TO SUCCEED HIM.

SOMETHING WE FIRST ASKED ABOUT BACK AT THE STATE FAIR.

>> AMY KLOBUCHAR RUNS FOR GOVERNOR AND APPOINTS WALZ TO FULFILL HER TERM IN THE U.S.

SENATE.

>> IT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DRINKING A LOT OF BEER AT THE BEER GARDEN.

SO, I BELIEVE THE GOVERNOR'S GOING TO RUN.

I THINK HE SHOULD RUN.

>> Mary: THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND A LEADING REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR IMMEDIATELY CAME TO THE CAPITOL PRESS ROOM.

SURPRISED OR NOT SURPRISED?

>> NOT SURPRISED.

I AM NOT SURPRISED.

I WAS SURPRISED A LITTLE BIT BET TIMING, BUT THIS IS EXPECTED.

THE FACT THAT GOVERNOR WALZ, WITH ALL OF THE FRAUD ND EVERYTHING THAT HAS GONE ON, THOUGHT THAT HE SHOULD BE RUNNING FOR A THIRD TERM, I THINK MOST MINNESOTANS ERE SAYING, PROBABLY NOT.

WAKING UP ALL MINNESOTANS TO REALIZE HOW BIG IT IS, THAT YOU CAN'T JUST IGNORE IT ANYMORE.

PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DISAGREE, BUT IT NEVER SHOULD BE VIOLENT.

AND YOU KNOW, MARY, AS I'VE TALKED, SINCE THE TRAGEDY THAT MY WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH MELISSA HORTMAN WAS SOMETHING I VALUED VERY MUCH -- >> Mary: SHE WAS A MENTOR TO YOU.

>> SHE WAS.

EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T AGREE POLITICALLY.

I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF HOW YOU CAN BUILD A WORKING RELATIONSHIP EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T AGREE ON POLITICS.

>> Mary: IS THE PRESIDENT PERPETUATING A LIE?

CONSPIRACY THEORY?

>> WHEN YOU SEE THE STATEMENTS THAT CAME OUT FROM THE HORTMAN KIDS, THOSE WERE SO, SO HEART-FELT AND SO WELL DONE.

AND I DON'T MEAN JUST GREAT JOB.

THEY WERE SO HEART-FELT ON THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TWEETS AND THE RETWEETING OF ONSPIRACY, I DON'T THINK GOVERNOR WALZ HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK PLACE.

BUT IT'S SHAKEN ALL OF US.

WOULD I TWEET THAT OR PUT THAT OUT, NO, I WOULDN'T.

>> Mary: SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES HAVE CALLED FOR HIS RESIGNATION NOW, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> WE'LL SEE HAT HE CHOOSES TO DO.

HE'S STILL THE GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW.

OBVIOUSLY THE STORY ON FRAUD IS EXPLODING.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE NOT NEW, MARY, AND WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FRAUD FOR YEARS.

>> I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

AND YOU CAN MAKE ALL YOUR REQUESTS FOR ME TO RESIGN.

>> Mary: AND THEN THE GOVERNOR HAD TO DEAL WITH THE DEATH AT THE HANDS OF AN I.C.E.

AGENT IN MINNEAPOLIS, JUST A DAY LATER.

>> DO YOU HAVE NO DECENCY?

WE HAVE SOMEONE DEAD.

IN THEIR CAR.

FOR NO REASON WHATSOEVER.

AND I DON'T WANT TO BE RIGHT ABOUT THIS, BUT I AID, IF THEY DO THIS, THEY'RE GOING TO CREATE A CHAOTIC SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE INNOCENT'S GONNA GET KILLED.

AND THEY DID IT.

AND NOW WE HEAR MORE POLITICAL RHETORIC.

ENOUGH.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

AND, SO, TO MINNESOTANS, DON'T TAKE THE BAIT.

DO NOT TAKE THE BAIT.

DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO DEPLOY FEDERAL TROOPS INTO HERE.

DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO INVOKE THE INSURRECTION ACT.

DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO DECLARE MARTIAL LAW.

DO NOT THEM TO LIE ABOUT THE SECURITY A