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 seek a third term due to Minnesota not having gubernatorial term limits in its Constitution, but has not stated whether or not he will do so.
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Since the adoption of four-year terms in 1962,[a] no Minnesota governor has been elected to a third term.
Democratic–Farmer–Labor primary
editCandidates
editPublicly expressed interest
edit- Peggy Flanagan, Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota (2019–present)[2]
- Tim Walz, incumbent governor (2019–present)[3][4]
Declined
edit- Dean Phillips, former U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 3rd congressional district (2019–2025) and candidate for president in 2024[5]
Republican primary
editCandidates
editFiled paperwork
edit- Phil Parrish, teacher and perennial candidate[6]
Publicly expressed interest
edit- Royce White, former NBA player and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2024[7]
Potential
edit- Scott Jensen, former state senator and nominee for governor in 2022[8]
- Kendall Qualls, healthcare technology executive, nominee for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district in 2020, and candidate for governor in 2022[9]
- Pete Stauber, U.S. Representative from Minnesota's 8th congressional district (2019–present)[10]
See also
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ "1957 Session Laws". Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
- ^ Albertson-Grove, Josie (August 27, 2024). "Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan open to running for governor in 2026". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
- ^ "Governor Walz thinking about running for reelection in 2026". KROC-TV. December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
- ^ Olson, Rochelle; Faircloth, Ryan (December 12, 2024). "Gov. Tim Walz wants to remain a force in politics, at state and national levels". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ 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
- ^ "Candidates". cfb.mn.gov. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
- ^ Krauss, Louis (November 7, 2024). "Losing Senate candidate Royce White says he will 'very likely' challenge Sen. Tina Smith in '26". Minnesota Star Tribune. Retrieved November 13, 2024.
White said he is also considering running for governor in 2026.
- ^ Olson, Blois (January 3, 2025). "MN GOP Tries to Unite". The Daily Agenda. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
Fmr. Senator and 2022 GOP candidate for Governor Scott Jensen is making calls testing the waters for a run in 2026.
- ^ Olson, Blois (January 6, 2025). "'All Parliamentary Tactics' Pledged in Fight Over MN House Control". The Daily Agenda. Retrieved January 7, 2025.
- ^ Coolican, J. Patrick (December 3, 2024). "Daily Reformer". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
More concerning is the prospect of the first effective GOP candidate for governor in memory: U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber seems to be eyeing the race — he's been regularly attacking Gov. Tim Walz ever since the election.