Amy Klobuchar wins big as Lisa Demuth makes history: Minnesota Governor race takes a dramatic turn
2026 Minnesota gubernatorial candidates Lisa Demuth, left, and Amy Klobuchar
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar has won the Democratic primary for Minnesota governor, setting up a high-profile general election showdown against Republican nominee Lisa Demuth in November.
According to NBC News election results cited in the supplied report, Klobuchar secured 614,916 votes, or 89.7%, with 99% of expected votes in. Her victory came as little surprise given her strong standing within Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
On the Republican side, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth defeated Trump-backed businessman Mike Lindell to win the GOP nomination. Demuth received 179,655 votes, or 43.4%, compared with Lindell’s 134,273 votes, or 32.5%.
The result creates an unusual and historic matchup: two women will compete as the major-party nominees for Minnesota governor, guaranteeing that the state will elect its first woman governor.
Amy Klobuchar Wins Minnesota Democratic Primary
Klobuchar dominated the Democratic primary, taking nearly nine out of every 10 votes reported in the race.
NBC News listed Kobey Layne as her closest competitor with 39,525 votes, or 5.8%, while Mohammad Wazwaz received 9,632 votes, or 1.4%. Klobuchar also posted commanding numbers in individual counties included in the election results.
In Anoka County, for instance, Klobuchar received 31,324 votes, representing 88.6% of the vote counted in that county. She also recorded 95.3% in Aitkin County and 91.3% in Beltrami County based on the figures provided by NBC News.
Her strong primary performance puts the longtime U.S. senator on course for a major transition from federal politics to the Minnesota governor’s office.
Lisa Demuth Defeats Mike Lindell in Minnesota GOP Primary
While Klobuchar’s Democratic primary victory was decisive, the Republican contest produced a more closely watched battle.
Lisa Demuth defeated Mike Lindell, the former MyPillow CEO and Trump-backed candidate, to become the Republican nominee.
Demuth won with 43.4% of the vote, while Lindell finished with 32.5%. Kendall Qualls, who had received the Republican Party’s endorsement, came third with 21.4%.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that Demuth’s victory marked a significant setback for Trump’s influence in the state’s Republican primary. Lindell received Trump’s endorsement in July and gained momentum in the final stretch of the campaign, but the backing was not enough to secure the nomination.
Lindell did not immediately concede after the race was called. He questioned the results before his supporters, saying he could not reconcile the outcome with some of the polling that had shown him in a stronger position.
Historic Minnesota Governor Race Takes Shape
The general election between Klobuchar and Demuth will make Minnesota political history.
Demuth is the first woman to win the Republican nomination for governor in Minnesota and, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune report, the first Black woman to receive a major-party gubernatorial nomination in the state.
Klobuchar was also the first woman to win her party’s nomination for governor, meaning both major parties will nominate women for the state’s top elected office.
The November election will guarantee Minnesota its first female governor, regardless of which candidate wins.
Demuth celebrated the historic development during her election-night remarks but stressed that her campaign would focus on her qualifications and readiness for the position.
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Why Amy Klobuchar vs. Lisa Demuth Matters
The contest brings together two candidates with significant political profiles and different records.
Klobuchar has represented Minnesota in the U.S. Senate and has built a reputation as a strong statewide Democratic candidate. The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that she has won all of her federal races by double-digit margins and has consistently raised more money than Republican opponents.
Demuth, meanwhile, enters the race with substantial experience in Minnesota state government. As House speaker, she became one of the state’s most prominent Republican leaders while operating in a closely divided Legislature.
Her campaign has emphasized issues including government spending, fraud in social services programs and public safety. The Star Tribune reported that Demuth had supported anti-fraud legislation and helped negotiate the creation of an independent Office of Inspector General.
Could Lisa Demuth Give Republicans a Chance in Minnesota?
The Republican Party has not won the Minnesota governor’s office since 2006, but Demuth’s nomination could give the party a competitive candidate with an established statewide profile.
The Minnesota Star Tribune cited a recent Minnesota Poll showing Demuth with 40% support compared with Klobuchar’s 48% in a potential matchup.
Republicans are also seeking to capitalize on concerns surrounding government fraud scandals and dissatisfaction with Democratic leadership.
Demuth has already attempted to frame Klobuchar as a continuation of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party’s long period of control in Minnesota, arguing that voters looking for a change could turn to her campaign.
Trump Endorsement Fails to Deliver GOP Primary Victory
One of the biggest political storylines from the Republican primary was Lindell’s inability to convert Trump’s endorsement into a nomination victory.
Trump endorsed Lindell in July, giving the businessman a major boost shortly before the primary. Lindell was also a prominent supporter of Trump’s election-related claims.
Despite that support, Republican voters selected Demuth, who had not received Trump’s backing and had been passed over by party activists at the state GOP convention in May.
The outcome adds Minnesota to a series of 2026 primary contests being closely watched for what they could reveal about Trump’s influence over Republican voters.
What Happens Next in the Minnesota Governor Race?
With the Democratic and Republican primaries decided, Amy Klobuchar and Lisa Demuth now move toward the November general election.
The contest is expected to attract significant national attention because of Minnesota’s political history, the candidates’ profiles and the possibility of a Republican breakthrough after two decades without control of the governor’s office.
Klobuchar will seek to extend the Democratic Party’s grip on the governor’s mansion, while Demuth will attempt to turn Republican dissatisfaction with the state’s Democratic leadership into an electoral advantage.
The race will also make history regardless of the result. Minnesota voters will elect their first woman governor in November.
FAQ
Who is Amy Klobuchar?
Amy Klobuchar is a Democratic U.S. senator from Minnesota who won the Democratic primary for governor in 2026, according to the supplied NBC News election results.
Did Amy Klobuchar win the Minnesota Democratic governor primary?
Yes. NBC News projected Amy Klobuchar as the winner of the Democratic primary, with 614,916 votes, or 89.7%, based on the results provided with 99% of expected votes in.
Who is Amy Klobuchar running against for Minnesota governor?
Amy Klobuchar is set to face Lisa Demuth, the Republican nominee, in the Minnesota governor’s general election.
Who won the Minnesota Republican governor primary?
Lisa Demuth won the Republican primary, defeating Mike Lindell and Kendall Qualls.
How many votes did Amy Klobuchar receive?
The supplied NBC News results show Klobuchar with 614,916 votes, representing 89.7% of the Democratic primary vote based on the reported results.
How many votes did Lisa Demuth receive?
Lisa Demuth received 179,655 votes, or 43.4%, according to the NBC News results supplied.
Did Mike Lindell win the Minnesota governor primary?
No. Mike Lindell lost the Republican primary to Lisa Demuth. He received 134,273 votes, or 32.5%, according to the supplied NBC News results.
Did Donald Trump endorse Mike Lindell?
Yes. The Minnesota Star Tribune report states that President Donald Trump endorsed Mike Lindell in July during the Republican primary campaign.
Why did Mike Lindell lose the Minnesota Republican primary?
The supplied reports do not establish one definitive reason for Lindell’s defeat. They show that he received Trump’s endorsement and gained momentum late in the campaign but still finished behind Demuth. Demuth had a strong political profile as Minnesota House speaker and was viewed as a competitive Republican candidate.
Is Amy Klobuchar the first woman nominated for governor by Minnesota Democrats?
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune report, Klobuchar became the first woman to win her party’s nomination for Minnesota governor.
Is Lisa Demuth the first woman nominated for governor by Minnesota Republicans?
Yes. The Minnesota Star Tribune reports that Demuth became the first woman to win the Republican nomination for governor in Minnesota.
Will Minnesota elect its first woman governor?
Yes. Since both major-party gubernatorial nominees are women, the November election will guarantee that Minnesota elects its first woman governor.
When is the Minnesota governor election?
The supplied reports identify the contest as the 2026 Minnesota governor election, with the general election taking place in November. The provided material does not specify the exact Election Day date.
What makes the Amy Klobuchar vs. Lisa Demuth race historic?
It is historic because both major-party nominees are women, meaning Minnesota is guaranteed to elect its first female governor.
What are Lisa Demuth’s major campaign issues?
According to the Minnesota Star Tribune report, Demuth has emphasized issues including government fraud, spending, health care policy and gun policy. She has also highlighted her work supporting anti-fraud legislation.
Has Minnesota elected a Republican governor recently?
The supplied report states that Republicans have not won the Minnesota governor’s office since 2006.
How strong is Amy Klobuchar in Minnesota elections?
The Minnesota Star Tribune describes Klobuchar as a strong statewide political candidate, noting that she has won all of her federal races by double-digit margins and has consistently outraised Republican opponents.
Could Lisa Demuth defeat Amy Klobuchar?
The supplied reporting indicates that Republicans view Demuth as one of their strongest potential candidates for the general election. A Minnesota Poll cited by the Star Tribune showed Klobuchar leading Demuth 48% to 40% in a potential matchup, but that polling does not determine the election outcome.
What happened to Kendall Qualls in the Republican primary?
Kendall Qualls finished third in the Republican primary behind Lisa Demuth and Mike Lindell. The supplied NBC News results show Qualls with 88,388 votes, or 21.4%.
What happens after the Minnesota primary?
The primary winners, Amy Klobuchar and Lisa Demuth, move on to the general election campaign. They will compete for the Minnesota governorship in November.
Why is the Minnesota governor race important in the 2026 midterms?
The race could determine whether Democrats retain control of the governor’s office or Republicans make a major statewide breakthrough. It is also attracting attention because Minnesota has not elected a Republican governor since 2006 and because the contest will produce the state’s first woman governor.