2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2026 United States gubernatorial elections.

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 is running for election to a third term in office.^[2]

2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election

← 2022 November 3, 2026 2030 →

Party Democratic (DFL) Republican

Incumbent Governor Tim Walz Democratic (DFL)

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

• Tim Walz, incumbent governor (2019–present), Democratic nominee for U.S. vice president in 2024, and former U.S. representative from Minnesota's 1st congressional district (2007–2019)^[2]
• Bill Gates, Jr., former pastor and independent candidate for Governor of Arkansas in 2022^[4]

Declined

• Angie Craig, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 2nd congressional district (2019–present) (running for U.S. Senate)^[5]
• Dean Phillips, former U.S. representative from Minnesota's 3rd congressional district (2019–2025) and candidate for president in 2024^[6]

Endorsements

Tim Walz

Labor unions

• Service Employees International Union Minnesota State Council^[7]

Organizations

• Democratic Governors Association^[8]
• Planned Parenthood North Central States^[9]
• VoteVets^[10]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Lisa Demuth, speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives (2025–present) from district 13A (2019–present)^[11]
• Scott Jensen, former state senator from the 47th district (2017–2021) and nominee for governor in 2022^[12]
• Jeff Johnson, former St. Cloud city councilor (2010–2018)^[b][13]
• Patrick Knight, food company CEO^[14]
• Brad Kohler, retired mixed martial arts fighter^[15]
• John Krhin, pastor^[16]
• Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow and candidate for RNC chair in 2023^[17]
• Chris Madel, attorney^[18]
• Phil Parrish, teacher and perennial candidate^[19]
• Kendall Qualls, healthcare technology executive, nominee for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in 2020, and candidate for governor in 2022^[20]
• Kristin Robbins, state representative from district 37A (2019–present)^[21]

Publicly expressed interest

• Julia Coleman, state senator from the 48th district (2021–present) and daughter-in-law of former U.S. Senator Norm Coleman^[22]

Potential

• Jim Nash, state representative from district 48A (2015–present)^[23]

Declined

• Zach Duckworth, state senator from the 57th district (2021–present) (running for re-election)^[24]
• Tom Emmer, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 6th congressional district (2015–present) and nominee for governor in 2010^[25]
• Pete Stauber, U.S. representative from Minnesota's 8th congressional district (2019–present)^[25]

Endorsements

Mike Lindell

Executive branch officials

• Donald Trump, 45th and 47th President of the United States (2017–2021, 2025–present)^[26]

Independents

Candidates

Declared

• Mike Newcome, entrepreneur, business consultant^[27]

General election

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report[28]	Likely D	September 11, 2025
Inside Elections[29]	Likely D	August 28, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[30]	Likely D	September 4, 2025
Race to the WH[31]	Likely D	September 16, 2025

Endorsements

Mike Newcome (I)

Political parties

• Forward-Independence Party^[27]

Polling

Tim Walz vs. Kendall Qualls

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[c]	Margin of error	Tim Walz (DFL)	Kendall Qualls (R)	Undecided
SurveyUSA[32][A]	September 15–18, 2025	568 (LV)	± 4.8%	50%	37%	13%

Tim Walz vs. Kristin Robbins

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[c]	Margin of error	Tim Walz (DFL)	Kristin Robbins (R)	Undecided
SurveyUSA[32][A]	September 15–18, 2025	568 (LV)	± 4.8%	47%	40%	13%

Tim Walz vs. Phil Parrish

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[c]	Margin of error	Tim Walz (DFL)	Phil Parrish (R)	Undecided
SurveyUSA[32][A]	September 15–18, 2025	568 (LV)	± 4.8%	49%	38%	13%

Tim Walz vs. Scott Jensen

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[c]	Margin of error	Tim Walz (DFL)	Scott Jensen (R)	Undecided
SurveyUSA[32][A]	September 15–18, 2025	568 (LV)	± 4.8%	46%	41%	13%

See also

• 2026 Minnesota elections
• 2026 United States gubernatorial elections

Notes

1. Via a constitutional referendum in 1958.^[3]
2. No relation to previous gubernatorial nominee Jeff Johnson.
3. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear

Partisan clients

1. Poll sponsored by KSTP-TV