2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election

Last updated

2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election
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November 3, 2026
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Party Democratic (DFL) Republican
Incumbent Governor

Tim Walz
Democratic (DFL)



The 2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election is scheduled to take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor of Minnesota. Primary elections are scheduled for August 11, 2026. [1] Incumbent two-term Democratic Governor Tim Walz initially ran for reelection to a third term in office, but announced in January 2026 that he would suspend his campaign. [2]

Contents

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Withdrawn

Declined

Endorsements

Tim Walz (withdrawn)
Labor unions
Organizations

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Independents

Candidates

Declared

  • Mike Newcome, entrepreneur and business consultant [35]
  • Steve Patterson, Grassroots-LC nominee for governor in 2022 [36]
  • Calvin Larson Jr., labor union leader [37]

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [38] Likely DSeptember 11, 2025
Inside Elections [39] Likely DAugust 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [40] Likely DSeptember 4, 2025
Race to the WH [41] Lean DJanuary 6, 2026

Endorsements

Mike Newcome (I)
Political parties

Polling

Hypothetical polling

Tim Walz vs. Kendall Qualls

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [b] 		Margin
of error		Tim
Walz (DFL)		Kendall
Qualls (R)		Undecided
SurveyUSA [42] [A] September 15–18, 2025568 (LV)± 4.8%50%37%13%

Tim Walz vs. Kristin Robbins

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [b] 		Margin
of error		Tim
Walz (DFL)		Kristin
Robbins (R)		Undecided
SurveyUSA [42] [A] September 15–18, 2025568 (LV)± 4.8%47%40%13%

Tim Walz vs. Phil Parrish

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [b] 		Margin
of error		Tim
Walz (DFL)		Phil
Parrish (R)		Undecided
SurveyUSA [42] [A] September 15–18, 2025568 (LV)± 4.8%49%38%13%

Tim Walz vs. Scott Jensen

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [b] 		Margin
of error		Tim
Walz (DFL)		Scott
Jensen (R)		Undecided
SurveyUSA [42] [A] September 15–18, 2025568 (LV)± 4.8%46%41%13%

Tim Walz vs. Generic Republican

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [b] 		Margin
of error		Tim
Walz (DFL)		Generic
Republican		Undecided
RMG Research [43] [B] December 10–16, 2025800 (RV)± 3.5%40%46%14%

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ No relation to previous gubernatorial nominee Jeff Johnson.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Partisan clients

  1. 1 2 3 4 Poll sponsored by KSTP-TV
  2. ↑ Poll sponsored by Alpha News

References

  1. ↑ "Elections Calendar". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  2. ↑ Van Oot, Torey (January 5, 2026). "Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz drops reelection bid". Axios . Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Candidates". cfb.mn.gov. November 5, 2025. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  4. ↑ Pager, Tyler (January 5, 2026). "Tim Walz to Drop Bid for Third Term and Amy Klobuchar May Run Instead". New York Times . Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Van Oot, Torey (January 5, 2026). "Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz drops reelection bid". Axios . Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 Olson, Blois (January 5, 2026). "morning take | Walz Won't Run". The Daily Agenda. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  7. ↑ Turtinen, Melissa (January 5, 2026). "Gov. Tim Walz will not seek reelection in Minnesota". FOX 9. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  8. ↑ Oot, Torey Van (January 5, 2026). "Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz ends campaign for reelection". Axios. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  9. ↑ Schoch, Al; Peterson, Lindsey (August 22, 2025). "Who won't be in the mix if Gov. Tim Walz doesn't run for re-election? Rep. Angie Craig says she's staying in Senate race". WCCO-TV .
  10. ↑ Wernus, Katie. "Minnesota governor's race: Potential Democratic contenders after Walz's exit". Fox 9. Fox 9. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  11. ↑ Cummings, Caroline (November 29, 2024). "Rep. Dean Phillips: Dem primary would've 'elevated a candidate better positioned to win' presidency". CBS News . Retrieved December 10, 2024. He ruled out a bid for the U.S. Senate or for the governor's office in 2026
  12. ↑ Nir, David (January 6, 2026). "Morning Digest: After Walz calls it quits, a heavyweight replacement looms". The Downballot. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Endorsement: Tim Walz". SEIU MN on Facebook. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  14. ↑ Democratic Governors Association. "DGA Chair Laura Kelly Statement on Governor Tim Walz Running for Reelection". Democratic Governor Association. Democratic Governors Association. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Endorsement alert!". Planned Parenthood Action. Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Endorsed Candidates". VoteVets. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Endorsements". GIFFORDS. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  18. ↑ "State Rep. Peggy Bennett joins MN Governor race". KAAL . January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  19. ↑ Cummings, Caroline (November 2, 2025). "Republican Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth jumps in the governor's race to challenge DFL Gov. Tim Walz". CBS News . Retrieved November 2, 2025.
  20. ↑ Brown, Kyle (July 17, 2025). "Republican Scott Jensen announces another run for Minnesota governor". KSTP-TV . Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  21. ↑ Lewerenz, Jennifer (March 19, 2025). "Former St. Cloud City Councilman Announces Run for Governor". KNSI . Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  22. ↑ Brown, Kyle (November 6, 2025). "Food executive Patrick Knight announces run for governor". KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
  23. ↑ Pioneer Staff Report (May 13, 2025). "Minnesota Governor candidate Brad Kohler presents at Beltrami County GOP meeting". The Bemidji Pioneer . Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  24. ↑ lauren.viska@apgsomn.com, LAUREN VISKA (December 15, 2025). "Governor forum hones in on fraud, test scores". Southernminn.com. Retrieved December 17, 2025. Sitting from left to right at the Steele County Republican Governor forum, businessman and Divine Mercy Catholic Church Executive Administrator Phillip Parrish, former Hennepin County commissioner Jeff Johnson, House Speaker Lisa Demuth, businessman and former UFC fighter Brad Kohler, Minnesota Rep. Kristin Robbins, physician and entrepreneur Kendall Qualls, former state lawmaker Patrick Knight, former state senator Scott Jensen and former ordained minister John Krhin.
  25. ↑ "MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell announces a campaign for Minnesota governor". NBC News. December 11, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2025.
  26. ↑ Skluzacek, Josh (December 1, 2025). "Attorney Chris Madel enters race for Minnesota governor". KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
  27. ↑ Spewak, Danny (May 14, 2025). "Kendall Qualls planning run for GOP nomination in 2026 Minnesota governor race". KARE . Retrieved June 2, 2025. Another candidate, U.S. Navy veteran Phillip Parrish, wrote that he is 'running as a Republican but reject the divisive tactics of partisan elites.'
  28. ↑ Cox, Peter (May 8, 2025). "Kendall Qualls enters 2026 Minnesota governor's race as a GOP nomination contender". Minnesota Public Radio . Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  29. ↑ "Republican state Rep. Kristin Robbins announces run for Minnesota governor". MPR News . August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Julia Coleman won't run for Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat but could for governor". Bring Me The News. July 8, 2025. Retrieved July 9, 2025.
  31. ↑ Faircloth, Ryan (August 9, 2025). "Minnesota hasn't elected a GOP governor in almost 20 years. Can Republicans break the streak?". Minnesota Star Tribune . Archived from the original on August 8, 2025. Retrieved August 12, 2025.
  32. ↑ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (July 8, 2025). "Morning Digest: A senior House Democrat lands a primary challenger after health scares". The Downballot. Retrieved July 8, 2025.
  33. 1 2 Faircloth, Ryan (February 12, 2025). "A look at who might run for Minnesota governor in 2026 — and who's ruled it out". Minnesota Star Tribune . Archived from the original on February 12, 2025. Retrieved February 12, 2025. Two of Minnesota's most prominent Republicans, U.S. Reps. Tom Emmer and Pete Stauber, both said they will not run for governor next year.
  34. ↑ Reporter, The; Reported, Or; this?, verified from knowledgeable sources The Trust Project What is (February 14, 2025). "Flanagan, White enter US Senate race in Minnesota; Ellison says he is 'not in or out'". InForum. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
  35. 1 2 Minor, Nathaniel (November 18, 2025). "Third-party candidate Mike Newcome enters Minnesota governor's race". The Minnesota Star Tribune . Retrieved November 18, 2025.
  36. ↑ Stolle, Matthew (November 18, 2025). "Austin's Steve Patterson is running for governor again. His running mate? JT Thompson of JT & Gunslingers fame". Rochester Post Bulletin. Retrieved December 23, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Districts constitutional offices viewer". cfb.mn.gov. Retrieved January 5, 2026.
  38. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  39. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  40. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  42. 1 2 3 4 Hauser, Tom; Brown, Kyle (September 19, 2025). "KSTP/SurveyUSA poll: Walz has net approval of zero as he begins campaign for 3rd term". KSTP-TV . Retrieved September 20, 2025.
  43. ↑ Sprinkel, Luke (December 18, 2025). "Alpha News/RMG Research poll finds 57% disapprove of Walz as fraud concerns mount". Alpha News. Retrieved January 3, 2026.
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