The people and the mindset that killed 3,000 of our fellow citizens on September 11 2001, would have killed not 3,000, but 300,000 if they could have or 3 million or 30 million. We need to do everything we can within our value systems and legal structures to make sure that doesn't happen.

Pawlenty was the chairman of the National Governors Association for the 2007–2008 term. On April 12 2011 Pawlenty said clearly on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight that he was "running for President" and not for Vice President adding that a formal announcement would be given in several weeks. The budget reduced the rate of funding increases for state services including transportation social services and welfare.

He previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives (1993–2003) where he was majority leader for two terms. He signed a bill mandating 20% ethanol in gasoline by 2013. His administration advocated for numerous public works projects including work on the Northstar Commuter Rail Line and the construction of Target Field a Major League Baseball stadium in Minneapolis.