>> Cathy: WE ARE GOING TO HEAD OUT TO THE AUDIENCE RIGHT NOW.

POLITICAL REPORTER ARY LAHAMMER IS OUT THERE.

MARY.

>> Mary: YEAH, CATHY, THERE'S JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS LEFT IN THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

AND SO FAR, VERY FEW BILLS OF SUBSTANCE HAVE PASSED.

AND THAT WAS THE BACKDROP FOR THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

[ Applause ] [ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: GOVERNOR IM WALZ DELIVERED HIS FINAL STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

>> WELL, IT'S BEEN NO SECRET.

IT'S BEEN AN UNIMAGINABLY DIFFICULT YEAR FOR MINNESOTA.

OUR IS SEASON OF GRIEF BEGAN LAST SUMMER WHEN WE LOST MELISSA AND MARK, AND WE NEARLY LOST JOHN, YVETTE AND HOPE HOFFMAN.

WE ARE SO DEEPLY RELIEVED AND GRATEFUL THAT JOHN IS BACK WITH US.

[ Cheers and applause ] >> Mary: FOR THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO HAD TO COME HOME AFTER HIS ONLY UNSUCCESSFUL RUN FOR OFFICE, IT'S BEEN A TUMULTUOUS TIME.

>> FOR NO REASON AT ALL, WE LOST TWO MORE OF OUR NEIGHBORS.

RENEE GOOD AND ALEX PRETTI.

WE GATHER TONIGHT IN THE LONG SHADOW OF ALL THOSE TRAGIC TRANSFORMATIVE LOSSES.

AND, YET, THE STATE OF OUR STATE REMAINS STRONG.

>> Mary: SLIDING POPULARITY, MOUNTING FRAUD, AND INCREASED THREATS TO HIS FAMILY, ALL PRECEDED WALZ'S ENDING HIS LONG POLITICAL CAREER IN THE STATE.

>> IT IS MY LAST STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

NEXT YEAR -- [ SCATTERED APPLAUSE ] >> TAKE IT.

BUT THE THINGS WE IMPLEMENTED WILL BE HERE FOR DECADES.

[ Laughter ] [ Applause ] >> Mary: REVIEWS OF THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS WERE MIXED.

FROM LEGISLATIVE LEADERS LOOKING TO END SESSION IN JUST WEEKS.

>> THE STATE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA IS SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING.

AS YOU WELL REMEMBER, WE HAD $18 BILLION OF SURPLUS.

THAT WAS NOT RETURNED TO THE TAXPAYERS OF MINNESOTA.

>> IT WAS A DISAPPOINTING SPEECH IN A LOT OF WAYS, BUT, REALLY, KIND OF A FITTING END TO WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST DIVISIVE GOVERNOR IN MINNESOTA'S HISTORY.

>> IT IS NOT A LEGACY OF AFFORDABILITY.

IT'S NOT A LEGACY OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

IT IS NOT A LEGACY THAT MAKES MINNESOTANS PROUD.

>> THE GOVERNOR CLEARLY HAS A VERY IMPRESSIVE LEGACY AS HE FINISHES UP HIS LAST STATE OF THE STATE.

AND WE ARE VERY ROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF MAKING THAT HAPPEN UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SPEAKER HORTMAN.

>> WHAT I HEARD WAS HOPE AND PRIDE.

THERE WAS A LOT OF PRIDE IN THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE AS A COMMUNITY IN COMING THROUGH A VERY TOUGH YEAR, AND, FRANKLY, A VERY TOUGH EIGHT YEARS.

>> HE ALSO REMINDED US THAT THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE DONE TOGETHER ARE GOING TO ERSIST FOR A VERY VERY LONG TIME.

EVEN THOUGH HE W