Minnesota Governor Race 2026: See Live Results For Klobuchar Vs. Demuth

ST. PAUL, MN — Polls have closed across Minnesota, and the first returns are coming in for the race to become the state's next governor.

DFL nominee Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota's senior U.S. senator, faces Republican nominee Lisa Demuth, the speaker of the Minnesota House. Green Party candidate Steven Young is also on the ballot. The seat is open after Gov. Tim Walz dropped his bid for a third term in January.

Live results below update automatically as precincts report, pulling directly from the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Refresh this page for the latest results.

Because both major-party nominees are women, a win by either Klobuchar or Demuth would make her the first woman elected governor of Minnesota.

Where Klobuchar stands

Klobuchar, the granddaughter of an iron ore miner and the daughter of a teacher and a newspaperman, ran Hennepin County's prosecutor's office before joining the U.S. Senate.

She has pledged a top-to-bottom audit of state agencies, a "Do Not Pay" database that would permanently bar anyone convicted of defrauding state programs from receiving grants or contracts, vetting of grants before money goes out and unannounced in-person inspections.

She has also said she would work to lower the cost of health care, child care and housing, create 10,000 more apprenticeships and ban cellphones in classrooms. She has promised to speed up business permitting, state services and homebuilding, the Associated Press reported.

Where Demuth stands

Demuth describes herself as a mother of four, grandmother of seven and business owner who served three terms on the ROCORI School Board before joining the Legislature. She has proposed cutting income taxes for families in the two lowest brackets, reducing car tab fees, ending taxes on Social Security benefits and requiring budget surpluses to be returned to taxpayers.

On fraud, she has said she would replace current state commissioners and create an independent Office of Inspector General with subpoena power and the authority to freeze funds under court order. She has also said she would focus schools on academic achievement and reading proficiency.

The tickets

Governor and lieutenant governor candidates run together on a single ticket. Klobuchar's running mate is Ben Schierer, a former mayor of Fergus Falls who has run two small businesses. Demuth's running mate is Ryan Wilson, a Maple Grove attorney and former business owner who ran for state auditor in 2022. Young's running mate is Jane Kirby, a longtime Green Party member.

The winner will begin a four-year term in January. All results are unofficial until they are certified by the State Canvassing Board.