If Walz becomes Vice President, what happens in Minnesota?

Gov. Walz leaving MN ahead of Election Day [RAW]

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz leaves the state on Nov. 4 to campaign in the battleground state of Wisconsin in the final push of the presidential campaign before Election Day.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - With the election for the next U.S. president underway across the nation, Minnesotans might be wondering what happens next if Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic vice presidential candidate, is elected as part of the Democratic ticket?

The Minnesota Constitution prepares the state for the scenario, outlining the succession plan for the offices of both governor and lieutenant governor.

According to Article V, Section 5, if a vacancy occurs from any cause in the office of governor, the lieutenant governor becomes the governor. Currently, that would mean Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan would move into the role.

The last elected presiding officer of the Senate then becomes lieutenant governor.

Currently, that would be Sen. Bobby Joe Champion – the president of the Minnesota Senate.

A presiding officer has become lieutenant governor in the past, most recently occurring in 2018. Prior to that, it had not happened since 1976.

Since Biden’s announcement, Minnesota leaders have nearly unanimously endorsed Harris as the party’s nomination.