Minnesota is holding its partisan primary elections on Tuesday, less than three months before voters will decide the governorship and key congressional races.The most high-profile race in Minnesota this year is undoubtedly the gubernatorial election. Many candidates on both sides of the aisle are seeking to replace Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), who is not seeking a third term.
In the Democratic primary, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) is by far the frontrunner. She is running alongside her lieutenant governor running mate, former Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schierer. Though the primary is crowded, it is not competitive for Klobuchar. She already secured the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party’s official endorsement.The other six Democratic candidates are Po Vang, Mohammad Wazwaz, Ole Savior, Bill Gates Jr. (unrelated to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates), Thomas Evenstad, and Kobey Layne.On the Republican side, the primary race is more competitive. Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, former MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, and businessman Kendall Qualls are among the top contenders while the remaining four candidates are behind in the polls.TRUMP TURNS MINNESOTA’S GOP GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY INTO PILLOW FIGHT WITH MIKE LINDELL ENDORSEMENTQualls previously ran for governor as a failed Republican candidate in 2022, and it appears he may come up short again despite an endorsement from the Republican Party of Minnesota. Demuth and Lindell, whom President Donald Trump endorsed, take the lead in multiple polls compiled by the New York Times.Whoever secures the GOP nomination will have a difficult time defeating Klobuchar, who holds a sizable lead over any Republican candidate. The one who closes the gap most with the likely Democratic nominee is Demuth. She is 8 points behind Klobuchar, according to a general election poll conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Research in June.Senate
