The Minnesota governor primary is on August 11, 2026, and it will decide who faces off in November for the seat Tim Walz is leaving open. On the DFL ballot, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is the party-endorsed candidate and holds a wide lead over progressive challenger Kobey Layne. On the Republican ballot, three candidates are competing: MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, House Speaker Lisa Demuth, and party-endorsed candidate Kendall Qualls. Every general-election poll so far shows Klobuchar ahead of all three.
Why the Seat Is Open
Governor Tim Walz announced on January 5, 2026, that he would not seek a third term, citing the difficulty of balancing a campaign with his gubernatorial duties.1CBS News Minnesota. Tim Walz Drop Out of Gubernatorial Race He remains in office until January 2027. His exit produced Minnesota’s first open-seat governor race since 2018 and reset the field on both sides.
Who Is on the Republican Ballot
The GOP field started with roughly ten declared candidates and narrowed to three on the primary ballot.2Minnesota Reformer. Lisa Demuth to Run in GOP Primary for Governor Kendall Qualls won the party endorsement at the May 30 state convention in Duluth, but voting problems at the convention led chairman Alex Plechash to release all candidates from their pledges to abide by the endorsement, while making clear only Qualls would receive the party’s full support and resources.3MinnPost. Chaos at Minnesota Conventions Reignites Calls for a New Way of Choosing Candidates That opened the door to a three-way primary. Minnesota Republicans have historically sided with the endorsed candidate, but the GOP has not held the governor’s office since Tim Pawlenty left in early 2011.4MPR News. House Speaker Lisa Demuth to Run in GOP Primary for Governor
Mike Lindell
Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, leads the Republican primary polling. A June 2026 SurveyUSA poll put him at 27 percent, ahead of Demuth at 22 and Qualls at 17.5RealClearPolling. Latest Governor Polls His platform covers tax relief, school choice, voter-ID and paper-ballot election laws, support for law enforcement, opposition to sanctuary policies, and an energy mix that includes biofuels, natural gas, and advanced nuclear power.6Mike Lindell for Governor. Platform President Trump has not formally endorsed him but has said Lindell “deserves to be governor of Minnesota.”7CBS News Minnesota. Demuth Qualls Minnesota Primary Governor Election His campaign reported about $12,000 in cash on hand at the end of May, the smallest war chest of the three.8Minnesota Reformer. Who Is the Billionaire Supporting Lisa Demuth’s Campaign for Minnesota Governor
Lisa Demuth
Demuth represents Cold Spring in the Minnesota House and serves as Speaker. She launched her campaign in November 2025 and, after the convention, reversed her earlier pledge to withdraw if she did not receive the endorsement, filing for the primary on June 2.4MPR News. House Speaker Lisa Demuth to Run in GOP Primary for Governor Her platform centers on affordability and combating government fraud.7CBS News Minnesota. Demuth Qualls Minnesota Primary Governor Election She holds the strongest financial position in the field, with about $518,000 in cash on hand as of late May, plus roughly $1.1 million in outside spending from Restore Sanity, a political action committee largely funded by Republican megadonor Richard Uihlein.8Minnesota Reformer. Who Is the Billionaire Supporting Lisa Demuth’s Campaign for Minnesota Governor Her pitch to primary voters leans on electability, arguing Lindell’s disapproval numbers would sink Republicans in November.
Kendall Qualls
Qualls, a former Army artillery officer and longtime healthcare executive, is the party-endorsed candidate and the first Black candidate to win a major-party gubernatorial endorsement in Minnesota history.9MPR News. Kendall Qualls Gains GOP Endorsement for Minnesota Governor He runs with lieutenant governor candidate Brian Nicholson and campaigns on his outsider biography, government fraud and waste, public safety, and education.10Kendall Qualls for Minnesota. Kendall Qualls for Governor He argues Minnesota Republicans have lost statewide for two decades by nominating career legislators. His campaign reported roughly $34,000 in cash on hand at the end of May, a distant second to Demuth on the money side.8Minnesota Reformer. Who Is the Billionaire Supporting Lisa Demuth’s Campaign for Minnesota Governor
Who Is on the DFL Ballot
Amy Klobuchar
Senator Amy Klobuchar announced her candidacy on January 29, 2026. She has served in the U.S. Senate since 2007 and won her fourth term in 2024.11MPR News. Amy Klobuchar Running for Minnesota Governor After Tim Walz Exit Her running mate is former Fergus Falls mayor Ben Schierer. She won the DFL endorsement on the first ballot at the party convention in Rochester with 68 percent of delegate votes.12MinnPost. Minnesota DFL Convention: Amy Klobuchar Wins Governor Endorsement
Her platform emphasizes lowering costs for families, government fraud, housing affordability, and healthcare access.13Amy Klobuchar for Governor. Minnesotans for Klobuchar14KTTC. Klobuchar Lays Out Housing Platform in Bid for MN Governor15Minnesota Reformer. Amy Klobuchar Has Raised $4.8 Million in 62-Day-Old Campaign for Minnesota Governor16Inforum. Klobuchar Maintains Substantial Cash Advantage in Governor’s Race
Kobey Layne
Layne, a 26-year-old progressive activist and former legislative assistant, is Klobuchar’s only DFL primary opponent. She drew 28 percent at the state convention and has said she will carry her challenge into the August primary.17Minnesota Reformer. Sources: Sen. Amy Klobuchar Threatened to Leave DFL Convention During Challenge From Left
General Election Polling
Every general-election poll so far shows Klobuchar leading each Republican, though the margins vary. A June 2026 Mason-Dixon poll had Klobuchar ahead of Demuth by 8 points (48–40), Qualls by 11 (48–37), and Lindell by 17 (53–36).18270toWin. Latest 2026 Governor Election Polls The Cook Political Report rates the race “Solid D,” saying Klobuchar has unified Democrats and left Republicans without a “viable path to victory.”19Cook Political Report. Minnesota Governor Race Those numbers drive the electability argument inside the GOP primary: Demuth cites her narrower deficit, Qualls his outsider profile, Lindell his name recognition.
How to Vote in the Primary
Minnesota runs an open primary. You do not register with a party, and you choose which party’s ballot to vote at the polling place. You can select candidates from only one party on your ballot; votes cast across party lines will not count.20Minnesota Secretary of State. Primary Election
Election Day is August 11, 2026. Early voting, either in person or by mail, runs from June 26 through August 10. The advance voter registration deadline is July 21, and Minnesota also allows same-day registration at the polls.21Minnesota Secretary of State. Elections Calendar Governor and lieutenant governor candidates appear on the ballot as a joint ticket.22Minnesota Secretary of State. Filing for Governor and Lieutenant Governor
What Happens to Klobuchar’s Senate Seat
If Klobuchar wins the governorship, her U.S. Senate seat becomes vacant. Under Minnesota law, the governor appoints a temporary replacement, and a special election follows. Depending on the timing of any resignation, the appointment could fall to Walz before he leaves office or to Klobuchar as the incoming governor. The appointee would serve until a special election in 2028.11MPR News. Amy Klobuchar Running for Minnesota Governor After Tim Walz Exit Klobuchar has not announced plans to resign from the Senate during the campaign. The Minnesota Republican Party has called on her to do so. Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan already received the DFL endorsement for that Senate seat at the party convention.12MinnPost. Minnesota DFL Convention: Amy Klobuchar Wins Governor Endorsement