2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

For related races, see 2026 United States gubernatorial elections.

2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election
← 2022 November 3, 2026 2030 →
 
Party Democratic (DFL) Republican
Incumbent Governor

Tim Walz
Democratic (DFL)



Elections in Minnesota
General elections
Federal elections
Presidential elections
Senate elections
House of Representatives
State executive elections
Gubernatorial elections
Lieutenant gubernatorial elections
Secretary of State elections
State Auditor elections
Attorney General elections
State legislative elections
Senate elections
House of Representatives elections
Special elections
Ballot questions
2012
Minneapolis
General elections
Mayoral elections
City Council elections
City ballot questions
Saint Paul
Mayoral elections

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 eligible to run for re-election to a third term in office but has not stated whether or not he will do so.

Since the adoption of four-year terms in 1962,[a] no Minnesota governor has been elected to a third term.

Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]

Publicly expressed interest

[edit]
  • Tim Walz, incumbent governor (2019–present) (decision expected this summer)[2]

Potential

[edit]

Declined

[edit]

Republican primary

[edit]

Candidates

[edit]

Declared

[edit]
  • Brad Kohler, 2024 candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner[6]
  • Jeff Johnson, former St. Cloud city councilor (2010-2018) (no relation to previous gubernatorial nominee Jeff Johnson)[7]
  • Phil Parrish, Navy veteran, teacher, and perennial candidate[8]
  • Kendall Qualls, healthcare technology executive, nominee for Congress in 2020, and candidate for governor in 2022[9]

Publicly expressed interest

[edit]

Potential

[edit]

Declined

[edit]

General election

[edit]

Predictions

[edit]
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[16] Likely D January 23, 2025
Inside Elections[17] Solid D February 6, 2025
Sabato's Crystal Ball[18] Likely D May 1, 2025

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Via a constitutional referendum in 1958.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "1957 Session Laws". Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  2. ^ Bakst, Brian (January 22, 2025). "Capitol View". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved January 22, 2025. As part of that interview, I asked Walz when he'll decide on his 2026 plans....'this is probably a decision that needs to be made sometime in June, sometime this summer'
  3. ^ Kashiwagi, Sydney (May 7, 2025). "Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon won't run for U.S. Senate". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved May 7, 2025. DFL sources say Simon is interested in a gubernatorial bid, but only if Walz doesn't run for re-election
  4. ^ "MN Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan 'intends' to run for US Senate". KMSP-TV. February 13, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  5. ^ 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
  6. ^ Pioneer Staff Report (May 13, 2025). "Minnesota Governor candidate Brad Kohler presents at Beltrami County GOP meeting". Bemidji Pioneer. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  7. ^ ((cite news |last1=Lewerenz |first1=Jennifer |title=Former St. Cloud City Councilman Announces Run for Governor lurl-https://knsiradio.com/2025/03/19/former- st-cloud-city-councilman-announces-run-for- governor/ |access-date=March 19, 2025 |work= [KNSI] |date=March 19, 2025 llanguage=en)
  8. ^ Spewak, Danny (May 14, 2025). "Kendall Qualls planning run for GOP nomination in 2026 Minnesota governor race". kare11.com. 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. My focus is on practical solutions and common ground to serve all Minnesotans, particularly the hardworking poor, with integrity and respect."
  9. ^ fcite news |last1=Cox |first1=Peter |title=Kendall Qualls enters 2026 Minnesota governor's race as a GOP nomination contender lurl=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/05/08 /qualls-makes@oG0.to,websiteasota- governor |access-date=May 8, 2025 |work= [Minnesota Public Ra Ilanguage=en))
  10. ^ Svitek, Patrick; Kornfield, Meryl; Bogage, Jacob; Dent, Alec (February 18, 2025). "Ken Martin's first big trip as DNC chair". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 18, 2025. In a post Saturday on X, state Sen. Zach Duckworth (R) ruled himself out of the [Senate] race but expressed interest in a bid for governor.
  11. ^ Nir, David; Singer, Jeff (February 27, 2025). "Morning Digest: Like snowbirds, pols from across the country are eyeing this Florida district". The Downballot. Retrieved February 27, 2025. Former state GOP chair David Hann is open to running for governor, he tells the Minnesota Star Tribune's Ryan Faircloth.
  12. ^ Svirnovskiy, Gregory (March 31, 2025). "Lindell teases run for Minnesota governor". Politico. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  13. ^ a b c 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. Retrieved February 12, 2025.
  14. ^ Maurice, Jim (February 21, 2025). "Minnesota Speaker Of The House Rules Out Run for U.S. Senate". WJON. Retrieved February 21, 2025.
  15. ^ a b Bierschbach, Briana (February 3, 2025). "Tim Walz banks $1 million heading into possible third campaign for Minnesota governor". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  16. ^ "2026 CPR Governor Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  17. ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  18. ^ "2026 Governor". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
[edit]