Fresh off a devastating loss in the 2024 election, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is back on the campaign trail—not for his constituents, but for national attention.

Walz, the Democrat who ran on a losing ticket with Kamala Harris last November, is scheduled to deliver high-profile speeches this weekend at Democratic state conventions in South Carolina and California, two power-player states in the party’s presidential nominating process. The trip is part of a broader national tour that has many speculating Walz is laying the groundwork for a 2028 presidential bid.

While his home state of Minnesota rushes to finalize its budget before the legislative session wraps, Walz is heading out of town.

“We’ll be done,” Walz claimed Thursday when pressed about the timing. He insisted any remaining work could be handled by “professional staff.”

Critics might ask: if the work is so easy to finish, why not stay and do it—instead of chasing applause in early primary states?

Walz’s swing through Columbia, SC, and Anaheim, CA, will include speeches urging Democrats to “defend their values” and attack President Trump, according to reports. The Minnesota governor, known for his soft-spoken progressive style, is increasingly showing up in places where presidential hopefuls test the waters.

His weekend schedule includes a speaking slot at Rep. Jim Clyburn’s state convention and a Friday fish fry, where Maryland Governor Wes Moore—another potential 2028 contender—will also appear.

Meanwhile, Walz’s own political future remains unclear. He has yet to announce a re-election campaign for governor but is clearly interested in staying relevant in national politics, despite his defeat as vice presidential nominee.

Walz’s post-election relationship with Kamala Harris, his 2024 running mate, has been frosty at best.

“We’ve spoken a couple times,” Walz told The New Yorker’s David Remnick in a recent interview. “Maybe she doesn’t want to talk to me after we got this thing done.”

While Harris has returned to California and is reportedly considering a gubernatorial bid, Walz has been making the rounds at political events, podcasts, and even the South by Southwest festival in Austin. His daughter, he says, misses the former VP.

Their professional relationship, Walz says, was solid—but clearly not personal:

“I’m doing my job, and she’s doing her job, and she’s out in California, I believe, living, and I’m here in beautiful Minnesota, where the weather’s always great.”

Back home, Minnesotans may wonder whether their governor is more focused on managing a budget—or auditioning for his next job.