2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election
The 2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Minnesota. Primary elections are scheduled for August 11, 2026. Incumbent two-term Democratic (DFL) governor Tim Walz initially ran for a third term in office, but ended his re-election campaign in January 2026. On January 29, 2026, Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar announced she was entering the race.
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2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election
The 2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election is scheduled to be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Minnesota. Primary elections are scheduled for August 11, 2026. Incumbent two-term Democratic (DFL) governor Tim Walz initially ran for a third term in office, but ended his re-election campaign in January 2026. On January 29, 2026, Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar announced she was entering the race.
Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary
Declared
• Bill Gates Jr., former pastor • Amy Klobuchar, U.S. senator (2007–present) • Kobey Layne, community organizer
Filed paperwork
• Rick DeVoe, bookstore owner and candidate for MN-01 in (/wiki/2022Minnesota's1stcongressionaldistrictspecialelection) • Christopher Seymore • Paul Ference
Potential
• Kelly Morrison, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 3rd congressional district (2025–present) • Erin Murphy, majority leader of the Minnesota Senate (2024–present) from the 64th district (2021–present) and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2018Minnesotagubernatorialelection)
Withdrawn
• Tim Walz, incumbent governor (2019–present), Democratic nominee for vice president in (/wiki/2024UnitedStatespresidentialelection), and former U.S. representative from MN-01 (2007–2019)
Declined
• Angie Craig, U.S. representative from MN-02 (2019–present) (running for U.S. Senate, endorsed Klobuchar) • Keith Ellison, attorney general of Minnesota (2019–present) (running for re-election) • Peggy Flanagan, Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota (2019–present) (running for U.S. Senate, endorsed Klobuchar) • Dean Phillips, former U.S. representative from MN-03 (2019–2025) and candidate for president in (/wiki/2024UnitedStatespresidentialelection) • Steve Simon, secretary of state of Minnesota (2015–present) (running for re-election) • Tina Smith, U.S. senator (2018–present)
Caucus vote
On February 3, 2026, Minnesota DFLers held their party caucus. Amy Klobuchar won the party's straw poll for governor with approximately 72% of the vote.
Results
Results by reporting unit: Klobuchar Uncommitted Abstained
<table><thead><tr><th>Party</th><th>Candidate</th><th>Votes</th><th>%</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Democratic (DFL)</td><td>Amy Klobuchar</td><td>22,484</td><td>71.71%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Democratic (DFL)</td><td>Christopher Seymore</td><td>397</td><td>1.27%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Write-in</td><td>1,097</td><td>3.50%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>None</td><td>Uncommitted</td><td>6,722</td><td>21.44%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>None</td><td>Abstained</td><td>655</td><td>2.09%</td></tr><tr><td>Total votes</td><td>31,355</td><td>100.00%</td></tr></tbody></table>
Republican primary
Declared
• Peggy Bennett, state representative from district 23A (2015–present) • Lisa Demuth, speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives (2025–present) from district 13A (2019–present) • Running mate: Ryan Wilson, attorney and candidate for Minnesota State Auditor in (/wiki/2022MinnesotaStateAuditorelection) • Patrick Knight, food company CEO • Brad Kohler, retired mixed martial arts fighter • John Krhin, pastor • Mike Lindell, founder and CEO of My Pillow and candidate for RNC chair in (/wiki/2023RepublicanNationalCommitteechairmanshipelection) • Phil Parrish, retired Naval intelligence officer, teacher, and school administrator • Kendall Qualls, healthcare technology executive, nominee for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in (/wiki/2020UnitedStatesHouseofRepresentativeselectionsinMinnesota#District3), and candidate for governor in (/wiki/2022Minnesotagubernatorialelection) • Running mate: Brian Nicholson, construction firm chief executive • Kristin Robbins, state representative from district 37A (2019–present) • Raul Estrada, activist
Withdrawn
• Scott Jensen, former state senator from the 47th district (2017–2021) and nominee for governor in (/wiki/2022Minnesotagubernatorialelection) (running for state auditor) • Jeff Johnson, former St. Cloud city councilor (2010–2018) • Chris Madel, attorney
Declined
• Zach Duckworth, state senator from the 57th district (2021–present) (running for re-election) • Tom Emmer, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 6th congressional district (2015–present) and nominee for governor in (/wiki/2010Minnesotagubernatorialelection) • Pete Stauber, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 8th congressional district (2019–present) • Tim Pawlenty, former governor of Minnesota (2003–2011)
Polling
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Lisa Demuth</th><th>Scott Jensen</th><th>Mike Lindell</th><th>Kendall Qualls</th><th>Kristin Robbins</th><th>Other</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>February 9, 2026</td><td>Jensen and Johnson withdraw from the race</td></tr><tr><td>Peak Insights (R)</td><td>January 31 – February 1, 2026</td><td>500 (LV)</td><td>± 4.0%</td><td>17%</td><td>12%</td><td>18%</td><td>11%</td><td>3%</td><td>7%</td><td>32%</td></tr></tbody></table>
Caucus vote
On February 3, 2026, Minnesota Republicans held their party caucus. Lisa Demuth won the party's straw poll for governor with approximately 32% of the vote.
Results
Results by reporting unit: Demuth Qualls Lindell Robbins Parrish Bennett Undecided Hashes indicate a tie
<table><thead><tr><th>Party</th><th>Candidate</th><th>Votes</th><th>%</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Lisa Demuth</td><td>5,827</td><td>31.86%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Kendall Qualls</td><td>4,624</td><td>25.28%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Mike Lindell</td><td>3,235</td><td>17.69%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Scott Jensen</td><td>1,185</td><td>6.48%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Kristin Robbins</td><td>776</td><td>4.24%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Phil Parrish</td><td>728</td><td>3.98%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Patrick Knight</td><td>362</td><td>1.98%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Jeff Johnson</td><td>139</td><td>0.76%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Peggy Bennett</td><td>112</td><td>0.61%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Brad Kohler</td><td>78</td><td>0.43%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>Raul Estrada</td><td>62</td><td>0.34%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Republican</td><td>John Krhin</td><td>59</td><td>0.32%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Write-in</td><td>56</td><td>0.31%</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>None</td><td>Undecided</td><td>1,046</td><td>5.72%</td></tr><tr><td>Total votes</td><td>18,289</td><td>100.00%</td></tr></tbody></table>
Independents
Declared
• Steve Patterson, Grassroots-LC nominee for governor in (/wiki/2022Minnesotagubernatorialelection) • Calvin Larson Jr., labor union leader • Zac Harding
Publicly expressed interest
• Jesse Ventura, former Governor of Minnesota (1999–2003), actor, and retired professional wrestler
Withdrawn
• Mike Newcome, entrepreneur and business consultant
General election
Predictions
<table><thead><tr><th>Source</th><th>Ranking</th><th>As of</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Inside Elections</td><td>Likely D</td><td>August 28, 2025</td></tr><tr><td>Sabato's Crystal Ball</td><td>Safe D</td><td>March 19, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>Race to the WH</td><td>Likely D</td><td>January 22, 2026</td></tr><tr><td>The Cook Political Report</td><td>Solid D</td><td>February 17, 2026</td></tr></tbody></table>
Polling
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Amy Klobuchar (DFL)</th><th>Peggy Bennett (R)</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>SurveyUSA</td><td>January 27–30, 2026</td><td>575 (RV)</td><td>± 4.8%</td><td>50%</td><td>30%</td><td>20%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Amy Klobuchar (DFL)</th><th>Lisa Demuth (R)</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Emerson College</td><td>February 6–8, 2026</td><td>1,000 (LV)</td><td>± 3.0%</td><td>51%</td><td>38%</td><td>11%</td></tr><tr><td>SurveyUSA</td><td>January 27–30, 2026</td><td>575 (RV)</td><td>± 4.8%</td><td>49%</td><td>34%</td><td>17%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Amy Klobuchar (DFL)</th><th>Patrick Knight (R)</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>SurveyUSA</td><td>January 27–30, 2026</td><td>575 (RV)</td><td>± 4.8%</td><td>49%</td><td>33%</td><td>18%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Amy Klobuchar (DFL)</th><th>Brad Kohler (R)</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>SurveyUSA</td><td>January 27–30, 2026</td><td>575 (RV)</td><td>± 4.8%</td><td>49%</td><td>32%</td><td>19%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Amy Klobuchar (DFL)</th><th>Mike Lindell (R)</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Emerson College</td><td>February 6–8, 2026</td><td>1,000 (LV)</td><td>± 3.0%</td><td>53%</td><td>31%</td><td>16%</td></tr><tr><td>SurveyUSA</td><td>January 27–30, 2026</td><td>575 (RV)</td><td>± 4.8%</td><td>52%</td><td>32%</td><td>16%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Amy Klobuchar (DFL)</th><th>Phil Parrish (R)</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>SurveyUSA</td><td>January 27–30, 2026</td><td>575 (RV)</td><td>± 4.8%</td><td>49%</td><td>32%</td><td>19%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Amy Klobuchar (DFL)</th><th>Kendall Qualls (R)</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>SurveyUSA</td><td>January 27–30, 2026</td><td>575 (RV)</td><td>± 4.8%</td><td>49%</td><td>33%</td><td>18%</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table><thead><tr><th>Poll source</th><th>Date(s) administered</th><th>Sample size</th><th>Margin of error</th><th>Amy Klobuchar (DFL)</th><th>Kristin Robbins (R)</th><th>Undecided</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>SurveyUSA</td><td>January 27–30, 2026</td><td>575 (RV)</td><td>± 4.8%</td><td>48%</td><td>33%</td><td>19%</td></tr></tbody></table>