Minnesota Primary Election 2026

Q: When is the Minnesota primary in 2026?

The Minnesota 2026 primary election is Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in most of the state. Minnesota offers same-day voter registration at your polling place.

The Minnesota primary is Tuesday, August 11, 2026. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in most of the state. Minnesota offers same-day voter registration at your polling place.

What's at stake

Minnesota's August 11 primaries set the general election matchups: Peggy Flanagan (D) vs. Michele Tafoya (R) for Tina Smith's open Senate seat, and Amy Klobuchar (D) vs. Lisa Demuth (R) for the governorship. Both races are rated Likely D.

Key races and candidates

US Senate (DFL primary)

Flanagan won decisively over Craig 58.7% to 39.7% in a six-candidate field. Craig conceded on election night and endorsed Flanagan. Outside pro-Craig spending exceeded $20M but did not change the outcome.

Peggy Flanagan (D)Lt. Governor; won DFL Senate primary 58.7% over Craig

Angie Craig (D)US Rep; lost primary 39.7% to Flanagan; conceded and endorsed Flanagan on election night

Result (August 11): Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan won the DFL Senate primary over Rep. Angie Craig 58.7% to 39.7% in a six-candidate field; Craig conceded and endorsed Flanagan (NBC News, MPR News).

US Senate (Republican primary)

Tafoya won the nine-candidate GOP primary with about 52%, defeating state party-endorsed Adam Schwarze (24%) and Royce White (11%). The general election matchup is Tafoya vs. Flanagan.

Michele Tafoya (R)NRSC-endorsed; won GOP Senate primary with about 52%

Adam Schwarze (R)State party-endorsed; finished second with about 24%

Royce White (R)Former professional basketball player; finished third with about 11%

Tom Weiler (R)Navy veteran; eliminated

Result (August 11): Michele Tafoya won the Republican Senate primary with about 52%, defeating state party-endorsed Adam Schwarze (24%) and Royce White (11%) in a nine-candidate field (AP, CBS News Minnesota).

Governor (DFL primary)

Klobuchar won with 89.1% as the effectively unopposed DFL-endorsed candidate, becoming the first woman to secure the DFL nomination for Minnesota governor.

Amy Klobuchar (D)US Senator, DFL-endorsed; won DFL gubernatorial primary with 89.1%

Result (August 11): US Senator Amy Klobuchar won the DFL gubernatorial primary with 89.1%, becoming the first woman to secure the DFL nomination for Minnesota governor (Star Tribune, Axios Twin Cities).

Governor (Republican primary)

Lisa Demuth won with about 45%, defeating both Trump-endorsed Mike Lindell (33%) and state party-endorsed Kendall Qualls. Demuth is the first Black major-party nominee for governor in Minnesota history and the first Republican woman nominated for the office.

Lisa Demuth (R)MN House Speaker; won GOP gubernatorial primary with about 45%; first Black major-party gubernatorial nominee in Minnesota history

Mike Lindell (R)MyPillow CEO, Trump-endorsed; lost to Demuth with about 33%

Kendall Qualls (R)State party-endorsed; finished third

Result (August 11): Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth won the Republican gubernatorial primary with about 45%, defeating Trump-endorsed Mike Lindell (33%) and state party-endorsed Kendall Qualls; Demuth is the first Black major-party gubernatorial nominee in Minnesota history (NPR, NBC News).

What happens next

Winners advance to the general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Follow the general-election matchups on our Senate and governor trackers, or see every competitive state on the interactive election map.

All 2026 primary dates and results →