Resolution criteria

The election will take place on November 3, 2026. The winner will be determined by the candidate who receives the most votes in the general election. Resolution will be based on official results from the Minnesota Secretary of State's office at https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections-voting/election-results/.

Background

Incumbent two-term Democratic Governor Tim Walz initially ran for reelection to a third term in office, but announced in January 2026 that he would drop out of the race. Primary elections are scheduled for August 11, 2026, with both major political parties hosting their gubernatorial primary elections on Aug. 11, shortening the list of candidates who can run on the November ballot as the official DFL or GOP nominee to one candidate per party.

If Klobuchar enters the race, she could easily clear the primary field, although if she decides to stay in the Senate, state Democrats do have a credible bench including Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon and state Attorney General Keith Ellison. There are almost a dozen Republicans in the race, with more notable names including former state Sen. Scott Jensen, state House Speaker Lisa Demuth, and state Rep. Kristin Robbins.