2026 Governor’s Race Continues to Evolve
Despite being 15 months out from the 2026 election, the race for governor in the State of Minnesota continues to evolve. Last week, Republican Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) announced her candidacy. First elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2018, Robbins currently chairs the House Fraud Prevention and State Agency Oversight Policy Committee and has already made Medicaid fraud prevention a central theme to her campaign. Rep. Robbins joins a growing Republican field that includes 2022 Republican nominee and former state senator Scott Jensen as well as businessperson Kendall Qualls who also sought the Republican nomination in 2022. Rep. Robbins has stated that she intends to remain in the race as long as possible and that she will go to a Republican primary if she does not win the GOP endorsement at the convention next spring.
Meanwhile, Democrats across the state are waiting for Gov. Tim Walz to make a formal announcement about his 2026 plans. Expected to come sometime after Labor Day, Walz was previously seen as likely to pursue an unprecedented third term, but recent media reports have noted him as still weighing the decision. A number of Democrats, including state Attorney General Keith Ellison, Senate Majority Leader Erin Murphy (DFL-St. Paul), and St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter have been rumored to be considering a bid if Gov. Walz determines he won’t seek the nomination.
Fateh Endorsement Rescinded
After the Minneapolis DFL convention endorsed state Sen. Omar Fateh (DFL-Minneapolis) last month, current Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey (DFL) filed an official challenge with the state DFL Party. Citing issues with the electronic voting system and the security of the delegate lists, the Minnesota DFL’s Constitution, Bylaws & Rules Committee vacated the endorsement last week. The state DFL committee barred the Minneapolis DFL from holding another endorsing convention this year. The decision was criticized by some Democrats as emblematic of insiders controlling the political process while other Democrats lauded the decision as the state party correcting the administrative mistakes of the city organizers.
Capitol Security Discussion Continues
Last Wednesday, the Advisory Committee on Capitol Security met for the first time since the assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark in June. As anticipated, it became clear that the issue of Capitol security and the safety of Minnesota’s lawmakers will be a high-profile topic of conversation in coming months. While the committee lacks the authority to make substantive changes unilaterally, they are tasked with determining what security upgrades are needed at the Capitol to protect not only lawmakers, but also staff and visitors.
Security measures have already been beefed up with security desks at both Capitol entrances. Officials have also signed an agreement for a third-party security assessment (with a report due in November or December), and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is looking into upgrades of camera technology on the Capitol grounds. The debate also continues surrounding the installation of metal detectors at the entrances and banning guns within the Capitol complex. Members of the committee expressed varying opinions during the meeting and the debate will continue at the next meeting on September 22, 2025. The committee is expected to meet regularly for the remainder of the year.
