The 2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2026, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Minnesota. Democratic senator Amy Klobuchar defeated Republican state House speaker Lisa Demuth in the general election.
Democratic incumbent Tim Walz initially ran for a third term, but withdrew in January following a scandal over fraud in state funded-social services. Following Walz's withdrawal, Klobuchar entered the Democratic primary and won the nomination with 89.7% of the vote against minimal opposition. In the Republican primary, Demuth defeated businessman Mike Lindell, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, and healthcare technology executive Kendall Qualls, who was endorsed by the state party, with 43.4% of the vote.
With her victory, Klobuchar will become the first female governor of Minnesota. Republicans have not won a gubernatorial election in Minnesota since 2006. Although this was Klobuchar's narrowest victory in any of her statewide campaigns, she won by the largest margin in a Minnesota gubernatorial election since 1994, and by the largest margin for a non-incumbent candidate since 1982.
Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary
After Walz announced his withdrawal from the race, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar launched a campaign for the governor's office on January 29, 2026. Six other Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) candidates filed, none of whom have previously held elected office. Community organizer Kobey Layne challenged Klobuchar for the DFL's endorsement on May 30, 2026, but Klobuchar was endorsed on the first ballot alongside her running mate, Ben Schierer.
Candidates
Nominee
- Amy Klobuchar, U.S. senator (2007–present)
- Running mate: Ben Schierer, former mayor of Fergus Falls (2017–2025)
Eliminated in primary
- Tom Evenstad, public safety specialist
- Running mate: Jason Haarsager
- Bill Gates Jr., former pastor (no relation to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates)
- Running mate: Leah Harris
- Kobey Layne, community organizer
- Running mate: Paul Ference
- Po Vang
- Running mate: Mark Frascone
- Ole "Viking" Savior, perennial candidate
- Running mate: Ashley "Skol" Johnson
- Mohammad Wazwaz
- Running mate: Murad Alshool
Not on ballot
- Sam Opal Boman
- Christopher Seymore
Withdrawn
- Rick DeVoe, bookstore owner and candidate for MN-01 in 2022
- Paul Ference (ran for lieutenant governor with Kobey Layne)
- Tim Walz, incumbent governor (2019–present)
Declined
- Angie Craig, U.S. representative from MN-02 (2019–present) (ran for U.S. Senate, endorsed Klobuchar)
- Keith Ellison, attorney general of Minnesota (2019–present) (running for reelection)
- 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 2024
- Steve Simon, secretary of state of Minnesota (2015–present) (running for reelection)
- Tina Smith, U.S. senator (2018–present)
Endorsements
Amy Klobuchar
Fundraising
Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate.
Caucus vote
On February 3, 2026, Minnesota DFLers held their party caucus. Klobuchar won the party's straw poll for governor with approximately 72% of the vote.
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Lisa Demuth, speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives (2025–present) from district 13A (2019–present)
- Running mate: Ryan Wilson, attorney and nominee for state auditor in 2022
Eliminated in primary
- Loner Blue, perennial candidate
- Running mate: Andrew Maass
- Raul Estrada, construction worker and organizer with the American Indian Coalition
- Running mate: Joe Kincaid
- John Krhin, pastor
- Running mate: Dennis Conn
- Mike Lindell, founder and former CEO of My Pillow and candidate for RNC chair in 2023
- Running mate: Phillip Parrish, retired Naval intelligence officer, teacher, and school administrator
- Ross Nova
- Running mate: Kerry Busby
- Kendall Qualls, healthcare technology executive, nominee for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in 2020, and candidate for governor in 2022
- Running mate: Brian Nicholson, construction firm chief executive
Not on ballot
- Patrick Knight, food company CEO
Withdrawn
- Peggy Bennett, state representative from district 23A (2015–present) (withdrew after her running mate dropped out)
- Scott Jensen, former state senator from the 47th district (2017–2021) and nominee for governor in 2022 (running for state auditor)
- Jeff Johnson, former St. Cloud city councilor (2010–2018)
- Chris Madel, attorney
- Phillip Parrish, retired Naval intelligence officer, teacher, and school administrator (running for lieutenant governor as Mike Lindell's running mate)
- Kristin Robbins, state representative from district 37A (2019–present)
- Lee Albert Wickboldt
Declined
- Zach Duckworth, state senator from the 57th district (2021–present) (running for reelection)
- Tom Emmer, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 6th congressional district (2015–present) and nominee for governor in 2010
- Tim Pawlenty, former governor of Minnesota (2003–2011)
- Pete Stauber, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 8th congressional district (2019–present)
Endorsements
Lisa Demuth
Kendall Qualls
Fundraising
Italics indicate a withdrawn candidate
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.
Independents and others
Candidates
Declared
- Steve Young, member of the Minneapolis Food Council, attorney, and veteran (Green)
- Running mate: Jane Kirby, retired midwife and animal rights activist
Write-in candidates
- Rhonda Gilliland
- Running mate: Gene Peter Klepnev
- Timothy Holden, 2018 gubernatorial candidate and candidate for mayor of St. Paul in 2013 and 2017
- Running mate: Ronald Adams
- Richard Kielty
- Running mate: Tabitha Hallin
- Brad Kohler, retired mixed martial arts fighter (previously registered as a Republican)
- Running mate: Shauna Breyer
- Steven Patterson, Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis gubernatorial nominee in 2022
- Running mate: JT Thompson
Not on ballot
- Tom Berhane
- Zac Harding
- Adam Kedrowski
- Brad Kohler, retired mixed martial arts fighter (previously registered as a Republican)
- Steve Patterson, Grassroots-LC nominee for governor in 2022
Withdrawn
- Calvin Larson Jr., labor union leader (running for State Senate District 2)
- Mike Newcome, entrepreneur and business consultant
Endorsements
Mike Newcome (I) (withdrawn)
General election
Post-primary endorsements
Amy Klobuchar (DFL)