Minnesota 2026 General Election

The Green Papers: Minnesota 2026 General Election

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Minnesota
Elections for Statewide offices and Congress
✓ Primary: Tuesday 11 August 2026
✓ General Election: Tuesday 3 November 2026

✓ Tuesday 19 May - Tuesday 2 June 2026 - Filing - Primary/Independent/Third/Minor .
✓ Tuesday 19 May - Thursday 15 October 2026 - Filing - General Election write-in .
✓ Tuesday 11 August 2026 - Primary . Polling hours 7:00a-8:00p CDT (1200-0100 UTC). Voting begins at 10:00 AM in some townships.
✓ Tuesday 3 November 2026 - General Election . Polling hours 7:00a-8:00p CST (1300-0200 UTC). Voting begins at 10:00 AM in some townships.

Senators:	2	(Electoral Classes 1 and 2)
Governor:	1
2020 Census:	5,709,752	(1.84% of 309,785,186)
2024, 2028 Electoral Votes:	10	(0.00% of 538)
2022-2030 Representatives:	8	(1.84% of 435)
Capital:	St. Paul

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Minnesota State and Local Government

Primaries are held for the Republican, Democratic-Farmer-Labor, Legal Marijuana Now, and Grassroots - Legalize Cannabis Parties.

Write-in votes are not allowed in a primary election but are allowed in the General Election [Minn. Stat. 204B.36, subd. 2]. Voters may not place pre-printed stickers on their ballot in the write-in space [Minnesota Rules 8230.1450]

Election Dates and Candidate Filing Periods from the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Voting hours from the Minnesota Secretary of State.

SB 651 would move the non-presidential primaries from the 2nd Tuesday in August to the 1st Tuesday in March and move the the petition deadline for non-presidential independents would move to late December.

Candidate Filings from the Minnesota Secretary of State.

11 August 2026 primary returns from an official source,
results from a media source,
results from another media source.

General Election Night returns from the Minnesota Secretary of State.



U.S. Senate 6 year term. No Term Limit. 119^th Senate Senate Electoral Classes

Class 1		Democratic	Senator Amy J. Klobuchar • First elected: 2006; re-elected: 2012, 2018, 2024. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 5 November 2030 • Open Seat - 22 January 2026: Filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to run for Governor in 2026. 29 January 2026: Announced candidacy for Governor. 11 August 2026: Received her party's nomination for Governor. 3 November 2026: Won the General Election for Governor. Will resign in January 2027 to take the Governor's Chair with 55% of the vote.

Class 2 Open		Democratic	Senator Tina Flint Smith • Appointed: 13 December 2017 [re: resignation of Senator Al Franken (Democratic)]; first elected in a Special Election: 2018, 2020. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Open Seat - 13 February 2025: Senator Smith will not seek re-election: "This job has been the honor of a lifetime .... Thank you so much, Minnesota."
			Open Seat (no incumbent)
	Candidate list (4, 2 write-ins)

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	1,520,908	53.71%	Lieutenant Governor Margaret "Peggy" Flanagan • FEC S6MN00440; 14 Oct 26; Tot $11,563,963; Dsb $10,570,749

		Republican	1,233,468	43.56%	Michele Tafoya • FEC S6MN00556; 14 Oct 26; Tot $12,501,786; Dsb $9,682,730

		Independent; (Republican)	41,566	1.47%	Marisa Simonetti • FEC S6MN00481

		Libertarian	32,471	1.15%	Rebecca Whiting • FEC S6MN00572; 14 Oct 26; Tot $3,756; Dsb $1,828

		Scattering	3,346	0.12%	WRITE-IN

		Write-in; (Socialist Workers Party)			Kevin Dwire
Total			2,831,759	100.00%

Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Term Limit: None, All Governors

Open		Democratic	Governor Timothy J. "Tim" Walz • First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Chair up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Open Chair - 5 January 2026: "I've decided to step out of the race and let others worry about the election while I focus on the work."
			Open Chair (no incumbent)
	Candidate list (3, 1 write-in)

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	1,569,756	55.47%	Senator Amy J. Klobuchar • for Lieutenant Governor: former Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schierer • 22 January 2026: Filed with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board to run for Governor in 2026. 29 January 2026: Announced candidacy for Governor.

		Republican	1,206,574	42.63%	state Representative Lisa Demuth • for Lieutenant Governor: Ryan Wilson

		Green	51,388	1.82%	Steven Young • for Lieutenant Governor: Jane Kirby

		Scattering	2,446	0.09%	WRITE-IN
Total			2,830,164	100.00%
	6 August 2024: Vice President Kamala D. Harris has chosen Minnesota Governor Timothy J. "Tim" Walz to be her Vice Presidential running mate. 5 November 2024: Vice President Kamala D. Harris and Minnesota Governor Timothy J. "Tim" Walz lost the Presidential election.

Lieutenant Governor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026. Elected on a ticket with the Governor.

Open		Democratic	Lieutenant Governor Margaret "Peggy" Flanagan • First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Open Seat - Running for the U.S. Senate in 2026. 11 August 2026: Received her party's nomination for U.S. Senate.

119^th U.S. House of Representatives 2-year term. Election Cycle 2026, 2028. No Term Limit. 119^th House
Partisan Composition (primary disposition): 4 Republican (4 Renominated); 4 Democratic (1 Open, 3 Renominated)

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 1		Republican	Member of Congress Brad Finstad • First elected in a Special Election: 9 August 2022 [re: passing of Member of Congress James "Jim" Hagedorn (Republican)] • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Renominated
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in) - 120th Congress

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	163,055	49.99%	Jacob "Jake" Johnson • FEC H6MN01190; 14 Oct 26; Tot $3,507,568; Dsb $2,946,475

		Republican	162,733	49.89%	Member of Congress Brad Finstad • FEC H2MN01223; 14 Oct 26; Tot $2,765,870; Dsb $2,223,657

		Scattering	391	0.12%	WRITE-IN
Total			326,179	100.00%

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 2 Open		Democratic	Member of Congress Angela Dawn "Angie" Craig • First elected: 2018 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Open Seat - 29 April 2025: Announced her candidacy for the US Senate Class 2 Seat in 2026. 11 August 2026: Did not receive her party's nomination for US Senate Class 2.
			Open Seat (no incumbent)
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in) - 120th Congress

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	214,282	57.11%	former state Senator Matt Little • FEC H6MN02230; 14 Oct 26; Tot $1,494,554; Dsb $1,289,779

		Republican	160,645	42.81%	state Senator Eric R. Pratt • FEC H6MN02263; 14 Oct 26; Tot $768,791; Dsb $595,361

		Scattering	314	0.08%	WRITE-IN
Total			375,241	100.00%

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 3		Democratic	Member of Congress Kelly Louise Morrison • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2026 • First elected: 2024. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Renominated
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in) - 120th Congress

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	242,079	64.04%	Member of Congress Kelly Louise Morrison • FEC H4MN03118; 14 Oct 26; Tot $1,867,912; Dsb $1,385,436

		Republican	135,504	35.85%	Tyler Michael Bass • FEC H6MN03170

		Scattering	413	0.11%	WRITE-IN
Total			377,996	100.00%

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 4		Democratic	Member of Congress Betty McCollum • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2026 • First elected: 2000 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Renominated
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in) - 120th Congress

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	245,699	73.07%	Member of Congress Betty McCollum • FEC H0MN04049; 14 Oct 26; Tot $1,539,014; Dsb $1,567,669

		Republican	90,067	26.79%	Paul Wikstrom • FEC H6MN04293; 14 Oct 26; Tot $65,016; Dsb $36,130

		Scattering	477	0.14%	WRITE-IN
Total			336,243	100.00%

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 5		Democratic	Member of Congress Ilhan Omar • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2026 • First elected: 2018 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Renominated
	Candidate list (3, 1 write-in) - 120th Congress

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	262,702	76.48%	Member of Congress Ilhan Omar • FEC H8MN05239; 14 Oct 26; Tot $8,247,982; Dsb $5,568,518

		Republican	55,764	16.23%	John Nagel • FEC H6MN05357; 14 Oct 26; Tot $1,126,115; Dsb $1,023,563

		Independent	24,110	7.02%	DeVelle LaVaughn Jackson • FEC H6MN05373

		Scattering	931	0.27%	WRITE-IN
Total			343,507	100.00%

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 6		Republican	Member of Congress Thomas Earl "Tom" Emmer, Jr. • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2026 • First elected: 2014 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Renominated
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in) - 120th Congress

		Republican	204,703	55.73%	Member of Congress Thomas Earl "Tom" Emmer, Jr. • FEC H4MN06087; 14 Oct 26; Tot $10,861,547; Dsb $9,578,754

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	162,212	44.16%	Doug Chapin • FEC H6MN06215; 14 Oct 26; Tot $765,076; Dsb $646,600

		Scattering	427	0.12%	WRITE-IN
Total			367,342	100.00%

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 7		Republican	Member of Congress Michelle Fischbach • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2026 • First elected: 2020 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Renominated
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in) - 120th Congress

		Republican	214,677	64.88%	Member of Congress Michelle Fischbach • FEC H0MN07091; 14 Oct 26; Tot $1,673,105; Dsb $1,217,824

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	115,859	35.02%	Erik Osberg • FEC H6MN07312; 14 Oct 26; Tot $577,219; Dsb $450,471

		Scattering	322	0.10%	WRITE-IN
Total			330,858	100.00%

Incumbent - 119th Congress
CD 8		Republican	Member of Congress Peter Allen "Pete" Stauber • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2026 • First elected: 2018 • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Renominated
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in) - 120th Congress

		Republican	190,668	53.04%	Member of Congress Peter Allen "Pete" Stauber • FEC H8MN08043; 14 Oct 26; Tot $2,566,760; Dsb $2,008,967

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	168,427	46.86%	Trina Swanson • FEC H6MN08179; 14 Oct 26; Tot $727,330; Dsb $550,514

		Scattering	359	0.10%	WRITE-IN
Total			359,454	100.00%

Secretary of State 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	Secretary of State Steve Simon • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2026 • First elected: 2014; re-elected: 2018, 2022. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Renominated
	Candidate list (4, 1 write-in)

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	1,529,231	54.71%	Secretary of State Steve Simon

		Republican	1,168,635	41.81%	former state Senator Tad Jude

		Libertarian	54,684	1.96%	George "Chip" Tangen

		Green	41,368	1.48%	Seth Kuhl-Stennes

		Scattering	1,256	0.04%	WRITE-IN
Total			2,795,174	100.00%

Attorney General 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	Attorney General Keith Maurice Ellison • Re-elected Tuesday 3 November 2026 • First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Renominated
	Candidate list (2, 1 write-in)

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	1,521,031	54.29%	Attorney General Keith Maurice Ellison

		Republican	1,276,219	45.56%	Ronald J. "Ron" Schutz

		Scattering	4,209	0.15%	WRITE-IN
Total			2,801,459	100.00%

Auditor 4 year term, Election Cycle: 2022, 2026

Open		Democratic-Farmer Labor	Auditor Julie Blaha • First elected: 2018; re-elected: 2022. • Seat up for regular election: Tuesday 3 November 2026 • Open Seat - 8 September 2025: Auditor Blaha will not seek re-election.
			Open Office (no incumbent)
	Candidate list (3, 1 write-in)

		Democratic-Farmer Labor	1,474,043	52.93%	former Duluth City Council Member Zack Filipovich

		Republican	1,230,201	44.18%	former state Senator Scott Jensen

		Forward Independence	78,986	2.84%	Jay Reeves

		Scattering	1,502	0.05%	WRITE-IN
Total			2,784,732	100.00%

Political Parties Parties appear in parenthesis and italics when a candidate receives the endorsement of a given Party and/or official sources indicate a candidate's association with a particular Party but only where the Party in question does not appear on the actual ballot as such.

Major Parties Those parties which received electoral votes through winning a plurality of a state's [or the District of Columbia's] popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
	• Democratic (affiliates): 8 incumbents
	• Democratic-Farmer Labor (affiliate of Democratic): 3 incumbents, 13 candidates
	• Republican: 4 incumbents, 14 candidates
Major Third Parties Any Party, other than a Major Party, receiving a minimum of 15/100ths of 1 percent of the nationwide popular vote in any presidential election between 1984 and 2016. See Classification of Political parties.
	• Green (affiliates): 2 candidates
	• Libertarian: 2 candidates
Other Third Parties
	• Forward Independence: 1 candidate
	• Independence (affiliates)
	• Justice Party
	• Legal Marijuana Now
	• Right to Life
	• Socialist Workers Party: 1 candidate
	• Unity
Independents
	• Independent: 2 candidates
Write-in/Scattered/otherwise not readily classifiable
	• Scattering: 13 candidates
	• Write-in: 1 candidate
Candidates running under the banner of more than one party are counted towards each party's total. A candidate who has lost a primary or is apparently no longer a candidate is not counted.

Notes

Candidates for office appear on this page in italics where 'The Green Papers' does not yet have independent confirmation from a legal election authority that the person has been officially certified to appear on the ballot.

Primary dates marked "presumably" and polling times marked "reportedly" are based on unofficial or estimated data (especially as regards local variations from a jurisdictionwide statutory and/or regulatory standard) and are, thereby, subject to change.

"FEC" indicates the Federal Election Commission (FEC) Campaign Finance Summary.

When available, we post each candidate's FEC identification number, the date of their most recently filed Report of Receipts and Disbursements, their "Tot" [Total Receipts (contributions received or what came in: FEC Form 3, Line 16, Column B)] and their "Dsb" [Total Disbursements (expenditures or what was spent: FEC Form 3, Line 23, Column B)]. A link is provided to the Federal Election Commission's Summary Report for those who might wish to explore the details.

If a candidate raises or spends $5,000 or less, he or she is not subject to FEC reporting requirements.

Links Links to other web sites

Constitution Links to State Constitutions
	• http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/rules/mncon/preamble.htm
Election Authority
	• Minnesota Campaign Finance Board
	• Minnesota Secretary of State Elections and Voting
Legislature Links to State Legislatures
	• Minnesota House of Representatives
	• Minnesota Senate
	• Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus
	• Minnesota State Legislature
Democratic
	• Minnesota Democratic-Farmer Labor Party
	• Minnesota Senate - DFL Caucus
Republican
	• Minnesota House of Representatives - Republican Caucus
	• Republican Party of Minnesota
Third Party
	• Independence Party of Minnesota 4 May 2019: The Minnesota Independence Party voted to affiliate with the Alliance Party.
	• Justice Party of Minnesota
	• Legalize Marijuana Now Party
	• Libertarian Party of Minnesota
	• Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life
	• The Unity Party of Minnesota
Media & others
	• Brainerd Dispatch
	• Cannon Falls Beacon
	• Duluth News Tribune- Duluth
	• Echo Press - Alexandria
	• KSTP TV - ABC - Saint Paul
	• Minnesota Public Radio
	• MinnPost - Minneapolis
	• Morrison County Record - Little Falls
	• Pioneer Press - Minneapolis - St. Paul
	• Politics1.com - Minnesota
	• The Austin Daily Herald
	• The West Central Tribune - Willmar
	• Winona Daily News