Right now, several people are either officially running for Minnesota governor in 2026 or are prominent potential contenders, especially on the Republican side, while the Democratic field is still taking shape after Gov. Tim Walz announced he will not seek reelection.

Key point: 2026 race status

  • The election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, and will choose the next governor of Minnesota.
  • Gov. Tim Walz has ended his bid for another term, making 2026 an open-seat race and reshaping both parties’ plans.

Democrats (DFL) in the mix

  • Tim Walz is not running again, having publicly announced he will not seek reelection in 2026.
  • U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar is being strongly encouraged to run and is “seriously considering” a bid but has not formally announced a campaign as of early January 2026.
  • Other DFL figures are being discussed in local political coverage, but no broad, fully confirmed Democratic field is yet locked in, and some high‑profile names have already declined in favor of U.S. Senate races.

Republicans: announced and active

Local reporting and election trackers show a crowded Republican field already filed or actively running for governor in 2026.

Notable Republicans include:

  • Mike Lindell – MyPillow CEO and Trump ally; has officially announced a run for governor as a Republican for 2026.
  • Lisa Demuth – Speaker of the Minnesota House; listed among the Republicans running for governor and highlighted as a leading figure in the crowded GOP field.
  • Scott Jensen – Former state senator and the GOP nominee for governor in 2022; listed again as a Republican candidate for 2026.
  • Other Republicans mentioned in candidate lists and coverage include Peggy Bennett, Chris Madel, Brad Kohler, Kendall Qualls, Jeff Johnson, and Phillip (Phil) Parrish, among others, reflecting a “loaded slate” of GOP hopefuls.

Where to track latest updates

Because candidate lists can change (new entries, withdrawals, or party endorsements), the most up‑to‑date snapshots are:

  • Nonpartisan election trackers such as Ballotpedia’s Minnesota 2026 governor page, which aggregates all declared and filed candidates.
  • Minnesota outlets like the Star Tribune, MPR News, FOX 9, and PBS local politics coverage, which regularly update stories on “who’s running for Minnesota governor in 2026.”

Information gathered from public news and election-tracking sources available on the open internet.