Monday, Governor Walz announced 29 Minnesota firefighters and nine fire trucks will travel to Salem, Oregon on Tuesday morning to help protect structures threatened by wildfires across the state. The authorization follows a request from Oregon officials through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). “The Minnesota fire service is known for stepping up in critical situations, putting their lives on the line to save others. I am proud of the way they’ve answered this call to serve. My thoughts are with the residents of Oregon, California, and Washington during this harrowing time,’ said Governor Walz.

In a letter to the presidential campaigns of Donald J. Trump and Joe Biden, Governor Walz asked that their upcoming campaign events comply with Minnesota’s COVID-19 Safety Guidelines. Both campaigns have visits to Minnesota scheduled for today. “As the election nears, Minnesotans look forward to hearing from political candidates about their vision for our state and country,”Walz wrote.“While we welcome the opportunity for Minnesotans to participate in democracy, we ask that your events comply with our state’s COVID-19 safety guidelines. Partner with us in the fight against COVID-19.”Read Governor Walz's letter »

Governor Walz sent a letter to the U.S. Census Bureau this week urging the Bureau to reconsider their decision to end the 2020 Census response period one month early and extend the deadline to October 31, 2020, as originally planned. “As our state works to recover and rebuild in the eventual wake of the pandemic and the economic crisis it has spawned, having a complete and accurate count of all those living in Minnesota is critical to properly directing the resources we need to return to prosperity,” reads the letter from Governor Walz.Census extension request »