Minnesota’s 2026 governor’s race is open after Gov. Tim Walz ended his bid for a third term, and both major parties now have crowded, shifting fields of candidates and potential candidates.

Current race snapshot

  • Gov. Tim Walz suspended his reelection campaign in early January 2026, turning the race into an open-seat contest for the first time in eight years.
  • Primary elections are scheduled for August 11, 2026, with the general election on November 3, 2026.

Democratic side (DFL)

  • Walz’s exit has triggered speculation that U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar may run for governor; she is reported to be seriously considering a bid after being urged by party figures but has not formally announced.
  • Other prominent Minnesota Democrats have publicly declined a run for governor for 2026, opting instead for U.S. Senate races or other roles, which narrows the immediate pool of likely top-tier contenders.

Republican candidates

  • Minnesota Republicans currently have a large slate of registered contenders for governor, with at least 14 candidates noted by local outlets.
  • Frequently mentioned Republican names include Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, Rep. Kristin Robbins, former state Sen. Scott Jensen, attorney Chris Madel, former MMA fighter Brad Kohler, Kendall Qualls, Jeff Johnson, and Phillip Parrish, among others.

Other and independent candidates

  • Ballot and registration trackers list additional Republican and independent hopefuls such as Brad Kohler, Calvin Larson Jr., Mike Newcome, and others as having filed or declared at various points in the cycle.
  • These lower-profile and independent candidates may have limited name recognition statewide but can still influence debates and primary dynamics, especially in a crowded field.

How to get the latest list

  • The roster of who is “running” changes quickly as people explore, launch, or end campaigns, so the most accurate up-to-the-minute list will be on:
    • Minnesota Secretary of State’s elections page for officially filed candidates.
* Reputable Minnesota news outlets such as MPR News, Star Tribune, FOX 9, and local political blogs that track new announcements and withdrawals.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.