U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar won Minnesota’s Democratic primary for governor on Tuesday with approximately 87% of the vote, securing the DFL nomination as the party’s standard-bearer in the November general election. The four-term senator’s commanding victory came after she entered the race in January 2026, weeks after incumbent Governor Tim Walz announced he would not seek reelection.
Klobuchar’s primary win marks a historic milestone: she became the first woman to win the DFL nomination for Minnesota governor. If elected in November, she would become the state’s first female governor. The senator has represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate since 2007 and is widely regarded as a popular figure across the state.
Walz’s decision to step aside opened the door for Klobuchar’s entry into the race. According to reporting, Walz consulted with Klobuchar about his exit before announcing his decision publicly. The DFL party quickly consolidated behind her candidacy, endorsing her at the party convention in May 2026. She selected former Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schierer as her running mate for lieutenant governor.
On the Republican side, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the GOP primary, also on August 11. Demuth defeated Trump-aligned candidates including former MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and businessman Kendall Qualls in a competitive three-way race. Demuth received approximately 46% of the Republican primary vote, according to results released Tuesday night.
Polling suggests Klobuchar holds a substantial advantage heading into the general election. Recent surveys show her leading Demuth by double digits in hypothetical matchups, with some polls placing her support at 51% or higher. The Cook Political Report rates the Minnesota governor’s race as “Solidly Democratic,” indicating the state leans heavily toward Democratic candidates in statewide races.
Klobuchar’s 2024 Senate reelection demonstrated her broad appeal across Minnesota: she won that race by nearly 16 percentage points. Her entry into the gubernatorial race was seen as giving Democrats a prominent, well-known candidate to defend the office after Walz’s departure. The general election will be held November 3, 2026.
Sources
- CBS News — Klobuchar’s primary win and vote percentage
- New York Times — Klobuchar’s primary victory and her status as a four-term senator
- MPR News — Klobuchar’s entry into the race in January 2026 and Walz’s decision not to run
- Ground News — Klobuchar as first woman to win DFL nomination for governor
- PBS NewsHour — Klobuchar’s 2024 Senate victory margin
- Internal links pool — Demuth’s Republican primary victory and vote percentage; general election polling
