Who Is Running for Minnesota Governor
Democrat Amy Klobuchar and Republican Lisa Demuth are the major-party nominees for Minnesota governor on November 3, 2026, and neither is an incumbent. Governor Tim Walz did not run for another term (Ballotpedia).
Key facts
- The general election is November 3, 2026, and Minnesota voters can register at their polling place on Election Day.
- Lisa Demuth won the Republican primary with 43.6%, 45,470 votes ahead of Mike Lindell.
- The governor and lieutenant governor are elected together by a single vote (Minnesota Constitution, Art. V, Sec. 1).
- The Minnesota House is split 67 to 67, and Democrats hold the Senate by one seat.
Amy Klobuchar is a U.S. senator from Minnesota since 2007. Lisa Demuth has been speaker of the Minnesota House since February 2025, representing District 13A since 2019, and she is not running for her House seat this year (Ballotpedia).
Tickets for Minnesota governor and lieutenant governor on the November 3, 2026 ballot
Source: Ballotpedia, Minnesota gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026, as of 2026-10-14
Minnesota Governor Primary Results
Lisa Demuth won a seven-way Republican primary on August 11, 2026 with 43.6%, ahead of Mike Lindell and Kendall Qualls, out of 403,638 votes. (Ballotpedia).
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Lisa Demuth | 43.6% |
| Mike Lindell | 32.3% |
| Kendall Qualls | 21.4% |
Source: Ballotpedia. 403,638 votes cast; four other candidates are not shown.
Amy Klobuchar won the Democratic primary with 89.6% of 671,468 votes against six other candidates (Ballotpedia). NCSL classifies Minnesota’s primaries as open. Our primary elections guide explains how each state runs them (NCSL).
The 2022 Minnesota Governor Result
In 2022, Governor Walz won a second term over Republican Scott Jensen by 192,408 votes out of about 2.51 million cast.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Tim Walz (D) | 52.3% |
| Scott Jensen (R) | 44.6% |
Source: Ballotpedia, certified results. Four minor-party candidates and write-ins took the rest.
That race had an incumbent, and 2026 does not. This page carries no polls or race ratings (Ballotpedia).
The Minnesota Legislature and the Veto
The Minnesota House is tied at 67 Republicans and 67 Democrats, and Democrats hold the Senate 34 to 33, according to the House and Senate member lists. The House elected Lisa Demuth speaker by a 67 to 65 vote on February 6, 2025 (Ballotpedia).
Overriding a veto takes two-thirds of each house: 45 senators and 90 representatives (Art. IV, Sec. 23). Neither party holds that many seats in either chamber. All 134 House seats and all 67 Senate seats are on the November 3 ballot. The next session begins January 12, 2027, and the new governor takes office January 4, 2027 (Minn. Stat. 3.011; Minnesota Constitution, Art. VII, Sec. 7).
What the Minnesota Governor Can Do
Minnesota’s governor heads the executive branch, commands the National Guard, and signs or vetoes every bill, including single items of spending in an appropriations bill (Minnesota Constitution).
Powers of the Minnesota governor
Source: Minnesota Constitution, Articles IV and V
How to Vote for Governor in Minnesota
Register by October 13, 2026, or register at your polling place on Election Day. Pre-registration closes 20 days before the election (Minn. Stat. 201.061). Check your registration with the Secretary of State’s voter lookup.
Minnesota's 2026 governor election, step by step
- September 18, 2026 Absentee voting begins Vote absentee by mail or in person at your county election office.
- October 13, 2026 Pre-registration deadline After this, register at your polling place on Election Day.
- October 16, 2026 Early voting begins In the 18 days before the election, you can vote early in person.
- November 3, 2026 Election Day Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.. A mailed ballot must arrive by 8 p.m. on November 3, 2026.
- January 4, 2027 Term begins The new governor and lieutenant governor take office.
A mailed absentee ballot received after 8 p.m. on Election Day is marked late and not counted (Minn. Stat. 203B.08; 203B.081; 204C.05).
Our 2026 governor races guide covers all 36 races on the ballot this year, and our Minnesota Senate race guide covers the open U.S. Senate seat.
Minnesota Governor Questions
Who is running for Minnesota governor in 2026?
Democrat Amy Klobuchar, a U.S. senator, and Republican Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House. The seat is open because Governor Tim Walz is not running. Green Party nominee Steven Young is also on the ballot.
Who won the 2026 Minnesota primaries for governor?
Lisa Demuth won the Republican primary on August 11 with 43.6%, 45,470 votes ahead of Mike Lindell. Amy Klobuchar won the Democratic primary with 89.6%.
Who are the candidates for Minnesota lieutenant governor?
Ben Schierer is Amy Klobuchar’s running mate and Ryan Wilson is Lisa Demuth’s. The Minnesota Constitution has voters choose a governor and lieutenant governor together with a single vote.
How many votes does it take to override a Minnesota governor's veto?
Two-thirds of each house: 45 of 67 senators and 90 of 134 representatives. Neither party holds that many seats in either chamber.
Can I register to vote on Election Day in Minnesota?
Yes. Minnesota lets you register at your polling place on Election Day. Pre-registration closes on October 13, 2026, 20 days before the election.
When does the next Minnesota governor take office?
On January 4, 2027, the first Monday in January, when the Minnesota Constitution starts the state’s official year and ends all terms of office.
What You Can Do
- Check your registration with the Secretary of State’s voter lookup. If you miss October 13, 2026, you can still register at your polling place on Election Day.
- Return a mailed ballot early. It must arrive by 8 p.m. on November 3.
- Look up your state senator and representative with the Legislature’s district finder.
- Read up on the issues on the ballot in Minnesota: the minimum wage, abortion laws and marijuana laws.