Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the Republican primary for governor on Tuesday, defeating MyPillow founder Mike Lindell. Demuth will face Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who secured her party's nomination, in the general election this November.
The primary occurred as incumbent Governor Tim Walz opted not to seek a third term. Demuth, 59, campaigned on her experience leading a divided state House and her involvement in budget negotiations, while Lindell ran with the endorsement of President Trump.
According to results from the Associated Press with 99% of ballots counted, Demuth received 43.4% of the vote (179,655 votes), while Lindell received 32.5% (134,273 votes). Businessman Kendall Qualls finished third with 21.4% (88,388 votes). On the Democratic side, Klobuchar won 89.7% of the vote, totaling 614,916 ballots.
For Minnesota voters, the outcome of the November election will determine the direction of state policy on taxes, spending, and government oversight. Demuth has emphasized her history of negotiating state budgets and her intent to focus on fraud in government programs. Because Republicans have not won a gubernatorial race in Minnesota in more than 20 years, the scale of this shift could affect how state agencies are managed and how legislative priorities are set starting in 2027.
The transition from Governor Walz to a new administration will impact state employees and residents who rely on state-funded programs. If Demuth is elected, her stated focus on "toe-to-toe" negotiations could lead to changes in how conservative priorities are balanced against Democratic initiatives in the state House. The next major milestone is the general election in November 2026, where Demuth and Klobuchar will face off for the governorship.