WASHINGTON (AP) – Amy Klobuchar has won the Democratic nomination for governor in Minnesota.
The Associated Press declared Klobuchar the winner about 26 minutes after the polls closed.
She jumped into the race in late January after two-term DFL Gov. Tim Walz reversed course and decided against seeking a third term.
She has been in D.C. for 20 years since she was first elected to the United States Senate in 2006.
Klobuchar won the DFL party endorsement even though was one of seven candidates heading into the primary.
Political pundits for months said she was the heavy favorite to win the primary and move on to the November general election.
“And to the voters who are showing up in big numbers this year thank you for putting your trust in me to be the next governor of the state of Minnesota,” Klobuchar told a group of supporters after being declared the winner.
Her running mate is Ben Schierer, the former mayor of Fergus Falls.
