2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election

Last updated

2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election
Flag of Minnesota.svg
←  2022 November 3, 20262030 →
 
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 running for re-election to a third term in office. [1]

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

Declared

Declined

Endorsements

Tim Walz

Organizations

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 [18] Likely DSeptember 11, 2025
Inside Elections [19] Likely DAugust 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball [20] Likely DSeptember 4, 2025
Race to the WH [21] Likely DSeptember 16, 2025

Polling

Tim Walz vs. Kendall Qualls

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered		Sample
size [b] 		Margin
of error		Tim
Walz (D)		Kendall
Qualls (R)		Undecided
SurveyUSA [22] [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 (D)		Kristin
Robbins (R)		Undecided
SurveyUSA [22] [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 (D)		Phil
Parrish (R)		Undecided
SurveyUSA [22] [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 (D)		Scott
Jensen (R)		Undecided
SurveyUSA [22] [A] September 15–18, 2025568 (LV)± 4.8%46%41%13%

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Via a constitutional referendum in 1958. [2]
  2. 1 2 3 4 Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear

Partisan clients

  1. 1 2 3 4 Poll sponsored by KSTP-TV

References

  1. 1 2 Ferguson, Dana (September 16, 2025). "Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will pursue 3rd term, could face tough fight to keep job". Minnesota Public Radio . Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  2. ↑ "1957 Session Laws". Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  3. ↑ 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 .
  4. ↑ 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
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ Brown, Kyle (July 17, 2025). "Republican Scott Jensen announces another run for Minnesota governor". KSTP-TV . Retrieved July 17, 2025.
  7. ↑ Lewerenz, Jennifer (March 19, 2025). "Former St. Cloud City Councilman Announces Run for Governor". KNSI . Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  8. ↑ Pioneer Staff Report (May 13, 2025). "Minnesota Governor candidate Brad Kohler presents at Beltrami County GOP meeting". The Bemidji Pioneer . Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  9. ↑ 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.'
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ "Republican state Rep. Kristin Robbins announces run for Minnesota governor". MPR News . August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 20, 2025.
  12. ↑ "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.
  13. ↑ Svirnovskiy, Gregory (March 31, 2025). "Lindell teases run for Minnesota governor". Politico . Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  14. 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.
  15. ↑ 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.
  16. 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.
  17. ↑ Bergey, Brock (July 4, 2025). "DIGGING DEEPER: Trump's shout-out to Congressman Emmer during bill signing event". KTTC . Retrieved July 6, 2025.
  18. ↑ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections . Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  20. ↑ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Governor Forecast - 2026-2026". Race to the WH. Retrieved June 30, 2025.
  22. 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.
Official campaign websites
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.