Your Guide To The 2026 Minnesota Primary: Dates, Races And How To Vote

ST. PAUL, MN — Minnesota voters head to the polls Aug. 11 for the state's primary election, with some of the biggest statewide races in years on the ballot.

Here's what you need to know.

The primary is Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. The general election follows on Nov. 3, 2026.

Early voting and absentee ballots are available now. Voting in the August primary began June 26.

Here's how to vote:

By mail: Request a ballot at mnvotes.gov/absentee. Mail ballots must be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day.

Early in-person: Visit your local election office through Aug. 10. Starting July 24, you can feed your ballot directly into a tabulator.

On Election Day: Polls are open until 8 p.m. Find your polling place at mnvotes.gov/pollfinder.

Track your ballot at mnvotes.gov/trackmyballot.

Minnesota allows same-day voter registration.

You don't need to be registered with a party to vote. On primary day, you simply choose which party's ballot you want. You can only vote in one party's primary.

What's on my ballot?

Governor

This is an open race. Gov. Tim Walz is not seeking re-election, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar left her U.S. Senate seat to run for governor.

She's the DFL-endorsed candidate.

On the Republican side, three major candidates are competing: GOP-endorsed businessman Kendall Qualls, House Speaker Lisa Demuth, and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.

Recent polling shows Lindell leading the Republican field with 27 percent, Demuth at 22 percent, and Qualls at 17 percent, with roughly a quarter of Republican voters still undecided.

U.S. Senate

Sen. Tina Smith is retiring, opening the seat for the first time since 2006. On the DFL side, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan,the party-endorsed candidate, is facing Rep. Angie Craig in what's being described as a national proxy fight between the party's progressive and moderate wings.

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Flanagan won the DFL endorsement by acclamation in May.

Craig holds a significant fundraising advantage.

The Republican primary features former NBC sportscaster Michele Tafoya, who leads recent polling at 36 percent, well ahead of GOP-endorsed Adam Schwarze and former NBA player Royce White. Cook Political Report rates the seat as likely Democratic in November.

Minnesota Legislature

All 201 legislative seats are on the ballot, all 67 State Senate seats and all 134 State House seats.

The DFL holds a narrow 34-33 majority in the State Senate. The State House was tied 67-67 after the 2024 election, with Republicans holding a one-seat edge due to a vacancy at the start of the current session.

U.S. House

All eight of Minnesota's congressional seats are on the primary ballot.

Other statewide offices

Attorney general, secretary of state, and state auditor are all up for election. Two seats on the Minnesota Supreme Court are also on the ballot. Those races are nonpartisan.

Local races

Depending on where you live, you may also see county races, school board seats, and hospital district elections on your ballot. The Hennepin County Attorney race is among the contested local contests this cycle.

For more information, visit mnvotes.gov or the Minnesota Secretary of State's office at sos.mn.gov.