2026 Race for Minnesota
Governor & Lieutenant Governor
Amy Klobuchar (D), Governor
Occupation & Background: Current U.S. Senator for MN (2007-present). Hennepin County District Attorney (1999-2006). Interned for Vice President Walter Mondale. Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts degree; earned law degree from University of Chicago. Age: 64 Accomplishments: Considered as possible nominee for U.S. Supreme Court Justice under Obamas Administration. Chair of Joint Committee on Printing, Joint Committee on the Library, and Committee on Rules and Administration. Led legislative process around: human trafficking prevention; combating opioid and fentanyl epidemic; consumer safety and protections; expanding high speed internet access for all. Economic Justice: Supports opening new int'l markets to help small businesses, with fair trade and labor enforcement. Working to strengthen anti-trust laws to foster competition and affordability. Wants to simplify tax code and lower taxes for middle class. Supports a federal $15 minimum wage. Worked to increase financial aid and repayment assistance to make college more afford-able. Working to increase innovative manufacturing plants and jobs in the U.S. Climate: Supports bold climate action and renewable energy production and investments in energy efficiency affordability programs. Pushed to rejoin Paris Climate Agreement after Trump Administration withdrew. Strong supporter of biodiesel tax credit. Helped secure funding to strengthen environmental protections for our air and waterways. Healthcare: Wants universal, affordable healthcare for all. Strong supporter of strengthening the Affordable Care Act by extending coverage and lowering prescription drug costs. Worked to pass legislation guaranteeing a 48-hour stay for new moms and babies in MN. Worked to develop and pass legislation to assist rural area hospitals remain staffed at adequate levels. Supports closing racial gaps in healthcare access. Wants to invest in technology to address healthcare fraud and protect personal data. Housing: Calling on greater investment in heating assistance for all low-income families. Criminal Justice/Policing: Wants to expand programs that fund and support public safety officers. Wants legislation to address violent crime and carjacking and partnerships among federal, state, and local law agencies. Supports reforms to address officer misconduct and transparency in policing. Increase use of drug treatment courts. Immigration: Wants to keep borders secure, ensuring police have necessary technology and equipment, while improving immigration system. Maintain pathways to citizenship, especially for children of immigrants; worked to pass previous bill that included the DREAM Act. Worked to reverse cap on refugees seeking asylum.
Ben Schierer (D), Lieut. Governor
Occupation & Background: Former Mayor of Fergus Falls (2017–2024), small business owner, author, and rural economic development leader. Co-owned Union Pizza & Brewing Company and TÖAST in downtown Fergus Falls. Currently works with West Central Initiative, a regional nonprofit focused on economic development. Elected to the Fergus Falls City Council in 2004 before serving two terms as mayor. Selected as Amy Klobuchar's running mate for Lieutenant Governor in 2026. Age: 52 Accomplishments: Led the revitalization of downtown Fergus Falls and its riverfront, helping attract new businesses and investment. Built and operated two successful small businesses. Authored Perpich: A Minnesota Original, highlighting former Governor Rudy Perpich's economic development legacy. Known for building partnerships between local government, nonprofits, and the private sector to strengthen rural communities. Economic Justice: Supports expanding Minnesota's economy through small business growth, workforce development, apprenticeships, and partnerships with local businesses and colleges. Advocates creating more pathways to good-paying careers, particularly in rural communities, while strengthening economic opportunities across Greater Minnesota. Climate: Supports investing in clean energy while promoting economic development. As mayor, emphasized sustainable community development and projects that balanced environmental stewardship with business growth. Supports local solutions to climate challenges and investments that create jobs while protecting Minnesota's natural resources. Healthcare: Supports making healthcare more affordable, strengthening rural hospitals, lowering prescription drug costs, and expanding access to quality healthcare throughout Greater Minnesota. Favors protecting access to healthcare while improving affordability for working families. Housing: Supports increasing the supply of affordable housing through partnerships with local governments and the private sector. Advocates building more homes, revitalizing communities, and making homeownership more attainable for first-time buyers and working families. Criminal Justice / Policing: Supports public safety through strong partnerships between law enforcement and communities. As mayor, emphasized collaborative local leadership and practical solutions to improve community safety while strengthening trust in public institutions. Immigration: Supports comprehensive immigration reform that strengthens border security while creating legal pathways for immigrants and supporting Minnesota employers facing workforce shortages. Aligns with the Klobuchar campaign's approach of balancing border security with an efficient, fair immigration system.
Lisa Demuth (R), Governor
Occupation & Background: Current Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives and State Representative for District 13A, representing communities in Stearns County. First elected to the Minnesota House in 2018 after serving 11 years on the ROCORI School Board. A lifelong Minnesotan from Cold Spring, Demuth is also a small business owner. She won the August 11, 2026 Republican primary and is the Republican nominee for Governor of Minnesota, facing DFL nominee Amy Klobuchar in the November general election. Age: 59. Born February 10, 1967, in Paynesville, Minnesota. Accomplishments: Elected to the Minnesota House in 2018 and selected as House Minority Leader in 2022. Became Speaker of the Minnesota House in February 2025, making history as the first Black person and first Republican woman to serve as Speaker of the Minnesota House. Her campaign highlights her role in negotiating the 2025–26 state budget and advocating for reduced state spending, tax relief, public safety, education reform, and fraud prevention. Economic Justice: Supports lowering taxes and reducing state spending and regulations. Advocates policies intended to make Minnesota more competitive for businesses, farmers, entrepreneurs, and workers. Supports reducing government waste and fraud, limiting government growth, and providing tax relief to families and businesses. Climate: Favors an energy approach focused on affordability and reliability and has opposed mandates she argues increase costs for Minnesota families and businesses. Supports expanding energy production and maintaining reliable sources of electricity while balancing environmental protection with economic concerns. Healthcare: Supports lowering healthcare costs through competition, transparency, and increased consumer choice. Has emphasized protecting access to healthcare in rural Minnesota and addressing rising costs while opposing expansion of government-controlled healthcare. Housing: Supports addressing housing affordability by reducing regulatory and permitting barriers that can increase construction costs. Favors encouraging private development, increasing housing supply, and improving economic conditions that make homeownership more attainable. Criminal Justice / Policing: Strong supporter of law enforcement and increased attention to violent crime and public safety. Supports tougher enforcement against repeat violent offenders, increased accountability in the criminal justice system, and resources for police. Her gubernatorial campaign has also emphasized combating fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars. Immigration: Supports stronger enforcement of immigration laws and cooperation with federal authorities on public-safety matters. Favors stronger border security and legal immigration while opposing state policies that she believes encourage or facilitate illegal immigration.
Ryan Wilson (R), Lieut. Governor
Occupation & Background: Attorney, former business owner, and Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota. Wilson previously ran as the Republican nominee for Minnesota State Auditor in 2022, narrowly losing to incumbent Julie Blaha. He has also worked as a constitutional attorney and has been involved in conservative legal organizations and Republican Party legal matters in Minnesota. Lisa Demuth selected Wilson as her running mate in November 2025. Age: 46. Born May 13, 1980, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Accomplishments: Founded and served as CEO of Symbios Clinical, a medical auditing and clinical research business. Won the Republican nomination for Minnesota State Auditor in 2022 and came within roughly 8,000 votes of defeating incumbent Julie Blaha. Has practiced constitutional and business law and was selected by Demuth in part because of his background in auditing, investigations, business, and government accountability. Economic Justice: Supports reducing taxes and government spending, improving affordability, and increasing accountability for taxpayer dollars. Has emphasized identifying waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs and creating a more business-friendly economic environment. During his 2022 State Auditor campaign, Wilson advocated stronger auditing and oversight of public spending. Climate: Supports balancing environmental stewardship with affordable and reliable energy. Generally favors market-based energy policies and opposes government mandates that he and the Demuth campaign argue increase costs for families and businesses. Healthcare: Has professional experience in the healthcare and clinical research industries. Supports increasing transparency and accountability in healthcare spending and favors consumer choice and competition. The Demuth-Wilson campaign has also emphasized healthcare affordability and "medical freedom" as campaign priorities. Housing: Supports addressing housing affordability through lower taxes, reduced regulatory barriers, and policies intended to encourage private-sector development and economic growth. His broader economic approach emphasizes reducing government-imposed costs that can affect homeowners, renters, and developers. Criminal Justice / Policing: Supports law enforcement and stronger public-safety policies. A major focus of his candidacy is combating fraud and misuse of public funds. Demuth has said Wilson would play a significant role in government accountability and fraud prevention if their ticket is elected. Immigration: Supports stronger enforcement of immigration laws and increased cooperation between state and federal authorities. During the 2026 campaign, Wilson has specifically discussed immigration enforcement alongside fraud, affordability, and public safety.
