Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth has won the Republican gubernatorial primary and will face the Democratic nominee in November to replace outgoing Governor Tim Walz. Demuth continued her campaign after losing the Republican Party endorsement to Kendall Qualls at the state convention, where Qualls secured the endorsement after 10 ballots. Demuth emphasized her legislative experience as a key factor in her candidacy.
In the primary, Demuth also defeated Mike Lindell, the founder and CEO of MyPillow, who had the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Since 2006, no Republican has won a statewide election in Minnesota, marking an 18-year period of losses for the party in statewide contests.
Following her victory, Demuth expressed optimism for change in Minnesota, citing public frustration with government fraud and the need for tax reduction and education improvement. The gubernatorial race was reshaped when Walz decided not to seek a third term, focusing instead on addressing fraud in state programs, which has been a significant political issue. Walz's administration faced criticism for its handling of fraud cases that prosecutors estimate could total over $9 billion. His exit from the race has shifted the focus to other candidates, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, who has also entered the contest.