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Governor of Minnesota

Statewide — all of Minnesota

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Sources re-checked October 19, 2026 · How we research

  • Open seat: incumbent DFL Gov. Tim Walz announced in January 2026 that he would not seek a third term.[2][1]
  • U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar launched her campaign on January 29, 2026 and won the DFL primary on August 11 with about 90% of the vote, ahead of Kobey Layne (about 6%) and five other candidates.[1]
  • House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the Republican primary with about 43% of the vote, ahead of Mike Lindell (about 33%) and Kendall Qualls (about 21%) among seven candidates.[1]
  • Green Party nominee Steven Young is the only other candidate on the November ballot for governor: the county sample ballot lists exactly three tickets (Klobuchar/Schierer, Demuth/Wilson and Young/Kirby), as do MPR News and Sahan Journal.[16][14][15]

On the ballot · 3 candidates

Amy KlobucharDFLU.S. Senator from Minnesota (since 2007)Full profile →Lisa DemuthRSpeaker, Minnesota House of Representatives (since 2025)Full profile →Steven YoungGreenFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

  • Amy Klobuchar
    —
  • Lisa Demuth
    —
  • Steven Young
    Opposes[17]

    His campaign site lists abolishing ICE and making Minnesota a sanctuary state among his key issues.

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

  • Amy Klobuchar
    —
  • Lisa Demuth
    Opposes[6]

    Her agenda calls for lowering the state's business tax rates and cutting income tax rates for working families rather than raising taxes.

  • Steven Young
    —

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

  • Amy Klobuchar
    —
  • Lisa Demuth
    —
  • Steven Young
    In their own words[17]
    “We have a world to save! We cannot afford to put off the many climate change mitigation and preparation that we need to do.”

    On his campaign website, under Green Jobs

Increase police funding and staffing

  • Amy Klobuchar
    —
  • Lisa Demuth
    Supports[8]

    Her public safety plan calls for funding for violent crime enforcement teams, law enforcement recruitment and retention incentives, and training reimbursement.

  • Steven Young
    —

Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)

  • Amy Klobuchar
    —
  • Lisa Demuth
    Supports[7]

    Would opt Minnesota into the federal education tax credit, which her plan says unlocks scholarships for public, charter and private school students.

  • Steven Young
    —

Research notes & limits

Running mates are listed in each candidate's ballotNote rather than as separate entries. Ballotpedia and the Minnesota Secretary of State candidate site were blocked (bot check); the three-ticket slate was confirmed on the printed Freeborn County General Election sample ballot (Klobuchar and Schierer, Demuth and Wilson, Steven Young and Jane Kirby; write-in line only otherwise), and MPR News and Sahan Journal agree (Wikipedia spells the first name 'Steve'; Mike Newcome withdrew in March 2026 per Wikipedia and is not on the ballot). Primary-result percentages come from Wikipedia's results tables. Klobuchar's housing plan and priorities pages are cited for her one listed position; her other plan pages were not read. Demuth's votes are Minnesota House roll calls from the official House vote pages (bill descriptions from the House vote snapshot); several are procedural motions and are described as such. Federal key votes for Klobuchar are expected to be added by script.

Sources · 29

Researched 2026-10-19. Green citations are official government records.

  1. 1.2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election · Wikipedia Reference
  2. 2.Gov. Tim Walz will not seek reelection in Minnesota · FOX 9 · 2026-01-05 News report
  3. 3.Priorities · Amy Klobuchar for Governor Candidate's own words
  4. 4.Roll Call Vote 119-1 No. 7, S. 5 (Laken Riley Act), Jan. 20, 2025 · U.S. Senate · 2025-01-20 Official record
  5. 5.Roll Call Vote 119-1 No. 372, H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act), July 1, 2025 · U.S. Senate · 2025-07-01 Official record
  6. 6.Lisa Demuth's Affordability Agenda for Minnesota · Lisa Demuth for Governor Candidate's own words
  7. 7.Lisa Demuth's Education Comeback Plan for Minnesota · Lisa Demuth for Governor Candidate's own words
  8. 8.Public Safety Plan · Lisa Demuth for Governor Candidate's own words
  9. 9.Lisa Demuth's plan to end fraud in Minnesota · Lisa Demuth for Governor Candidate's own words
  10. 10.Roll call, S.F. 856 (Office of the Inspector General), May 7, 2026 · Minnesota House of Representatives · 2026-05-07 Official record
  11. 11.Roll call, H.F. 5140 (assault weapons and gun safety), May 14, 2026 · Minnesota House of Representatives · 2026-05-14 Official record
  12. 12.Roll call, H.F. 5084 (right to life constitutional amendment), May 13, 2026 · Minnesota House of Representatives · 2026-05-13 Official record
  13. 13.Roll call, S.F. 4401 (Omnibus Cannabis bill), May 17, 2026 · Minnesota House of Representatives · 2026-05-17 Official record
  14. 14.Amy Klobuchar will face off against Lisa Demuth in Minnesota governor's race · MPR News · 2026-08-11 News report
  15. 15.Who's on the ballot in Minnesota? A guide to governor, Senate and other statewide races · Sahan Journal News report
  16. 16.2026 General Election Sample Ballots · Freeborn County, Minnesota Official record
  17. 17.Vote For Steven Young · Steven Young for Governor (campaign website) · 2026-10-19 Candidate's own words
  18. 18.Governor 2026 Election Guide · KAXE Northern Community Radio · 2026-09-28 News report
  19. 19.Amy Klobuchar · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  20. 20.2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  21. 21.About Amy - U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar · Office of Sen. Amy Klobuchar · 2026-10-19 Official record
  22. 22.Lisa Demuth · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  23. 23.2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  24. 24.About Lisa · Lisa Demuth for Governor Candidate's own words
  25. 25.Governor 2026 Election Guide · KAXE · 2026-09-28 News report
  26. 26.GOP Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth launches campaign for governor · Minnesota Reformer · 2025-11-02 News report
  27. 27.2026 Minnesota gubernatorial election · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
  28. 28.Amy Klobuchar will face off against Lisa Demuth in Minnesota governor's race · MPR News · 2026-08-11 News report
  29. 29.Governor 2026 Election Guide · KAXE · 2026-09-28 News report