2026 Race for Minnesota
Secretary of State
Steve Simon (D), Secretary of State
Occupation & Background: Minnesota Secretary of State (2015–present). Former Minnesota State Representative (2005–2015), assistant Minnesota Attorney General, and private practice attorney. Earned a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Tufts University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School. Serves as Minnesota's chief elections officer and is seeking a fourth term in 2026. Age: 56. Accomplishments: Has overseen six statewide elections while maintaining Minnesota's nation-leading voter turnout. Led implementation of online voter registration, automatic voter registration, expanded absentee voting, and other election modernization efforts. Has worked with state and local officials to strengthen election security and improve access to voting while serving as Minnesota's chief elections administrator since 2015. Economic Justice: Supports making it easier for eligible Minnesotans to participate in elections by modernizing election administration and improving government services. Advocates protecting consumers through secure business filings, strengthening transparency, and increasing government efficiency. Supports policies that make it easier to start and maintain Minnesota businesses through improved online services. Climate: Supports protecting Minnesota's natural resources and recognizes the role elections play in determining environmental policy. While the Secretary of State's office does not set environmental policy, Simon supports sustainable government operations and public transparency in state government. Healthcare: Supports protecting Minnesotans' access to healthcare through fair and secure elections that allow voters to shape healthcare policy. While healthcare is outside the direct responsibilities of the Secretary of State, he has supported policies that expand voter participation in decisions affecting healthcare. Housing: Supports maintaining secure property and business records administered by the Secretary of State's Office and improving access to government services through technology. While housing policy is outside the office's authority, he supports transparent government processes that protect consumers and businesses. Criminal Justice / Policing: Supports protecting election workers from threats and intimidation, strengthening election security, and maintaining public confidence in Minnesota's elections. Has worked closely with local election officials and law enforcement to ensure secure elections and has supported increased penalties for threats against election workers. Immigration: Supports ensuring that all eligible U.S. citizens can register and vote regardless of their background. Has focused on election administration and voting rights rather than federal immigration policy. Supports equal access to voting for all eligible Minnesotans under state and federal law.
Tad Jude (R), Secretary of State
Occupation & Background: Attorney, former Minnesota District Court judge, and longtime state legislator. Jude served in both the Minnesota House of Representatives and Minnesota Senate before later serving as a Hennepin County District Court judge. He is the 2026 Republican nominee for Minnesota Secretary of State, after winning the August 11 Republican primary with about 60% of the vote. Age: 74. Accomplishments: Has decades of experience across Minnesota's legislative and judicial branches. Served as a state representative, state senator, and district court judge. His 2026 campaign centers on election administration, election security, voter confidence, and improving services provided by the Secretary of State's office. Economic Justice: Supports making the Secretary of State's business services more efficient and accessible for Minnesota businesses and nonprofits. The office manages business registrations and filings, and Jude's campaign emphasizes providing dependable and responsive services to businesses while improving government efficiency. Climate: Climate and environmental policy are not major components of Jude's campaign platform and generally fall outside the direct responsibilities of the Secretary of State. His campaign is primarily focused on elections, business services, government accountability, and public trust. Healthcare: Healthcare policy is not specifically detailed by his campaign and is outside the Secretary of State's primary authority. The office's responsibilities are primarily elections administration, business filings, records, and programs such as Safe at Home. Housing: Housing policy is not specifically detailed by Jude's campaign. His platform focuses more heavily on election administration and improving government services rather than housing policy. Criminal Justice / Policing: Jude's background includes service as a Minnesota District Court judge. His campaign emphasizes enforcing election laws, improving election security, maintaining accurate voter records, and increasing accountability within Minnesota's election system. Immigration: Jude supports requiring proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and emphasizes ensuring that only eligible U.S. citizens participate in Minnesota elections. He has also advocated voter identification requirements as part of his election-integrity platform.
