2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election

Last updated

2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election
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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. Incumbent two-term Democratic Governor Tim Walz is eligible to run for re-election to a third term in office but has not stated whether he will do so.

Contents

Since the adoption of four-year terms in 1962, [a] no Minnesota governor has been elected to a third term.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

Candidates

Publicly expressed interest

  • Tim Walz, incumbent governor (2019–present) (decision expected in September) [2]

Potential

Declined

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Publicly expressed interest

Potential

Declined

Endorsements

Tom Emmer (declined)
U.S. presidents

General election

Predictions

SourceRankingAs of
The Cook Political Report [21] Likely DJanuary 23, 2025
Inside Elections [22] Likely DAugust 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [23] Likely DMay 1, 2025
Race to the WH [24] Likely DJune 30, 2025

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Via a constitutional referendum in 1958. [1]

References

  1. ↑ "1957 Session Laws". Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  2. ↑ Oot, Torey Van (July 23, 2025). "Tim Walz says he'll shut the door on 2028 presidential bid if he runs for governor again". Axios . Retrieved July 23, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Faircloth, Ryan; Kashiwagi, Sydney (August 14, 2025). "Gov. Tim Walz wavering on third term, setting off quiet scramble within DFL". Minnesota Star Tribune . Retrieved August 14, 2025.
  4. ↑ Kashiwagi, Sydney (May 7, 2025). "Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon won't run for U.S. Senate". Minnesota Star Tribune . Retrieved May 7, 2025. DFL sources say Simon is interested in a gubernatorial bid, but only if Walz doesn't run for re-election
  5. ↑ 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 .
  6. ↑ "MN Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan 'intends' to run for US Senate". KMSP-TV . February 13, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  7. ↑ 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
  8. ↑ Brown, Kyle (July 17, 2025). "Republican Scott Jensen announces another run for Minnesota governor". KSTP-TV . Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  9. ↑ Lewerenz, Jennifer (March 19, 2025). "Former St. Cloud City Councilman Announces Run for Governor". KNSI . Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  10. ↑ Pioneer Staff Report (May 13, 2025). "Minnesota Governor candidate Brad Kohler presents at Beltrami County GOP meeting". The Bemidji Pioneer . Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  11. ↑ 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.'
  12. ↑ 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.
  13. ↑ "Republican state Rep. Kristin Robbins announces run for Minnesota governor". MPR News . August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  14. ↑ "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.
  15. ↑ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (February 27, 2025). "Morning Digest: Like snowbirds, pols from across the country are eyeing this Florida district". The Downballot. Retrieved February 27, 2025. Former state GOP chair David Hann is open to running for governor, he tells the Minnesota Star Tribune's Ryan Faircloth.
  16. ↑ Svirnovskiy, Gregory (March 31, 2025). "Lindell teases run for Minnesota governor". Politico . Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  17. 1 2 3 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.
  18. ↑ 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.
  19. 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.
  20. ↑ Bergey, Brock (July 4, 2025). "DIGGING DEEPER: Trump's shout-out to Congressman Emmer during bill signing event". KTTC . Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  21. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  23. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  24. ↑ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
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