Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) said in an interview with The Hill that he would 'rather eat glass than fill it' to describe his stance on replacing Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s (D-Minn.) vacant Senate seat before the 2026 election. Klobuchar resigned from the Senate on Feb. 14 to serve as President Biden’s secretary of Veterans Affairs.

The seat will remain vacant until a special election in November 2026, as required by Minnesota state law. Walz emphasized he would not appoint a temporary replacement, a power reserved for governors in some states, calling such appointments 'a political football.'

What the Right Is Saying

Republicans criticized Walz for delaying the appointment. Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.) said in a statement that the governor is 'abdicating his duty to fill a critical Senate seat during a time of national crisis.' GOP strategist Maggie Gallahan argued on X, 'A vacancy hurts Minnesota’s voice in Washington—Walz is prioritizing politics over constituents.'

The Minnesota Republican Party called for an immediate appointment, citing the state legislature’s 2023 failure to pass a bill allowing special elections for vacancies. However, that bill died without a vote in the Democratic-led Senate.

What the Left Is Saying

Progressive advocates and Democratic lawmakers praised Walz’s refusal to appoint a temporary replacement. Minnesota Democratic Party Chair Jessica Held stated in a press release that the decision 'respects the democratic process and ensures Minnesotans choose their next senator.' Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) tweeted, 'Let voters pick their next senator—no backroom appointments.'

The liberal advocacy group Progress Minnesota highlighted Walz’s 'term limit compliance,' noting Klobuchar’s two full Senate terms (since 2007) and the absence of a constitutional term limit for senators.

What the Numbers Show

Since 1900, Minnesota governors have appointed 10 temporary U.S. senators, most recently in 2000 when Hubert Humphrey’s seat was filled by Mark Dayton. The average tenure of appointed senators is 11.3 months. The 2026 special election will cost an estimated $12 million, according to the state’s election finance commissioner.

Klobuchar’s resignation triggered the second Senate vacancy in 2026, following Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden’s decision to take a leave of absence for health reasons. The Senate now has 11 vacant seats as of Feb. 18.

The Bottom Line

Walz’s refusal to appoint a temporary replacement sets a precedent for how vacancies are handled in states with special election requirements. The 2026 race will determine whether Democrats retain their Senate majority, which currently holds a 51-49 edge. Minnesota’s special election timeline mirrors Biden’s reelection campaign, potentially amplifying national stakes for both parties.