Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth Wins Republican Gubernatorial Primary

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth secured victory in the Republican gubernatorial primary. She will face the Democratic nominee in November to replace outgoing Governor Tim Walz.

Demuth’s win is a major boost for her campaign. She remained in the race after losing the Republican Party endorsement to Kendall Qualls at the state convention. Despite Qualls securing the endorsement after ten ballots, Demuth argued her legislative experience and leadership made her the strongest Republican contender for November. Additionally, she defeated MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, who had former President Donald Trump’s endorsement and national recognition.

Republicans have not won a statewide election in Minnesota since 2006, when Governor Tim Pawlenty narrowly claimed re-election by less than one percentage point. Since then, Republicans have faced 28 consecutive losses in statewide contests, marking an 18-year drought, the longest in Minnesota’s history for either major party.

“Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz testifies during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2026.”

This year the dynamics shifted significantly when Governor Walz withdrew from his campaign for a third term. Walz cited a desire to focus on combating fraud in state programs as his reason for stepping down.

Walz initially launched his re-election campaign but faced increasing scrutiny over allegations of fraud in government-funded programs. This issue became a central attack point from Republicans.

Lisa Demuth, a Republican state representative from Cold Spring, Minnesota, was the House Speaker in the 2025 session.

Walz’s withdrawal was unexpected for a politician who had gained national prominence, having been Kamala Harris’ vice-presidential running mate in 2024. As governor, Walz supported several Democratic priorities, including expanded abortion protections, free school meals, and legalized recreational marijuana. However, his administration faced significant criticism over alleged fraud in state programs, with prosecutors estimating losses exceeding $9 billion.

Upon Walz’s exit, attention shifted to Amy Klobuchar as a potential Democratic successor. Klobuchar entered the race, transforming the contest into one where Republicans must challenge one of the state’s most prominent politicians.