Minnesota’s primary elections on Tuesday set the stage for a general election matchup between U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth in the race for governor. Klobuchar won the Democratic nomination with 89% of the vote, while Demuth secured the Republican nomination by defeating MyPillow founder Mike Lindell and retired health care executive Kendall Qualls.
Klobuchar’s commanding victory in the Democratic primary reflected her party’s strong backing. She had secured the DFL’s endorsement at the state party convention in May 2026 with 67% of the vote, signaling clear party unity behind her candidacy. Six other Democratic candidates appeared on the primary ballot alongside her, but none mounted a serious challenge to the nationally prominent senator.
On the Republican side, Demuth’s primary victory marked a significant outcome in a competitive field. She defeated Lindell, who had been leading in some independent polling and carried an endorsement from President Donald Trump. Qualls finished third in the three-way race. Demuth’s win as a woman candidate mirrors a broader trend in the 2026 election cycle: Minnesota’s primary results show women winning nominations across multiple statewide races, including Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan’s Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.
The general election in November will be the first open-seat governor’s race in Minnesota since 2022, when incumbent Democratic Governor Tim Walz defeated Republican Scott Jensen with 52.3% of the vote. That race demonstrated the state’s competitive nature in statewide contests, though Democrats have held the governor’s office since 2019. Klobuchar, a three-term U.S. Senator, brings national profile and party resources to the race, while Demuth brings legislative experience as the Republican-controlled House’s presiding officer.
Early polling has shown Klobuchar leading in general election matchups, but the race remains several months away. Both candidates will now focus on building their campaigns for the November general election, where Minnesota voters will decide which party controls the governor’s office for the next four years.
Sources
- Washington Post — reported that Klobuchar won the Democratic nomination and Demuth won the GOP primary
- NPR — confirmed Demuth’s victory over Lindell in the Republican primary
- New York Times — provided live election results showing Klobuchar’s Democratic primary win
- CBS Minnesota — reported Klobuchar won with 89% of the vote
- Minnesota Public Radio — confirmed the general election matchup and Flanagan’s Senate nomination
- Wikipedia — provided 2022 election precedent with Walz defeating Jensen 52.3% to 44.6%
