Recent polling unanimously projected that Klobuchar would have the advantage over any Republican challenger in the November general election
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NEED TO KNOW
- U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar secured the Democratic nomination for Minnesota governor in her Tuesday, Aug. 11, primary
- Recent polling unanimously projected that she would have the advantage over any Republican challenger in the general election on Nov. 3
- Should she win in November, Klobuchar will succeed Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who initially planned to seek a third term before agreeing to step aside
Amy Klobuchar has secured the Democratic nomination for Minnesota governor.
The U.S. senator, 66, prevailed in the 2026 Minnesota gubernatorial primary, overtaking seven other opponents on the Democratic ballot on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Klobuchar will now face off with the Republican nominee in November, where she will have an advantage in the liberal-leaning state.
The heated Republican race pitted MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth and former healthcare executive Kendall Qualls against one another. The Associated Press has not called the Republican primary at the time of this publication.
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Recent polling unanimously projected that Klobuchar, who has chosen former Fergus Falls Mayor Ben Schierer as her running mate, would have the advantage over any of her potential Republican challengers.
Should she win the general election on Nov. 3, Klobuchar will succeed two-term Gov. Tim Walz, who changed his mind about seeking a third term in January.
Klobuchar announced her campaign on Jan. 29. In a video posted to X, the state’s senior U.S. senator said her candidacy was fueled by her belief that “we must stand up for what’s right, and fix what’s wrong.”
“I’m running for every Minnesotan who wants ICE and its abusive tactics out of the state we love,” Klobuchar said in the video.
She then seemingly referenced the state’s difficult past year, including the shooting deaths of American citizens Renée Good and Alex Pretti, as well as the assassinations of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman. “Minnesota, we’ve been through a lot,” Klobuchar added.
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Klobuchar was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006 and is currently in the midst of her fourth six-year term, which is set to conclude early 2031. She rose to national prominence with her heated 2018 questioning of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and her subsequent 2020 presidential campaign.
If Klobuchar is successful in her bid for Minnesota governor, she will resign her seat in the Senate. Per ABC News, Walz may then appoint a temporary successor for the senator until a special election is held to determine a permanent replacement to finish her term.
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