Minnesota Set for Historic All-Woman Governor's Race

Minnesota’s primary election has created a historic moment for women in politics, with the state heading toward its first all-woman major-party race for governor. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar won the Democratic nomination, while Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth secured the Republican nomination. The two candidates will face each other in the November 3 general election, ensuring that Minnesota will elect its first woman governor.

According to unofficial results, Amy cruised to the Democratic primary with nearly 90 percent of the vote. After incumbent Governor Tim Walz announced that he wouldn't run for re-election, she joined the gubernatorial race. The campaign is entirely different from what she has become known for in the U.S. Senate, where she has represented Minnesota since 2007.

Key Highlights

• Minnesota will have its first all-woman governor election in November
• Amy Klobuchar and Lisa Demuth won their party nominations
• The November election will decide Minnesota’s first woman governor

Before becoming a U.S. senator, Amy was a prominent figure in national politics and before that, Hennepin County attorney. She was the first Minnesotan to be elected to the Senate and in 2020, ran for the Democratic presidential nomination. Her federal political experience now puts her in the running for the highest office in Minnesota.

Lisa received about 45% of the vote on the Republican side, being bested by Trump-endorsed businessman Mike Lindell and other candidates. Her win has special meaning for the GOP and Minnesota women, and for the very fact that women are represented in the legislature. She is the first female to be nominated by the Republicans for governor in the state's history.

Lisa's political career also has another milestone. She was the first African American and first female Republican Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. Her gubernatorial nomination is another sign of a greater number of Black women in leadership and government.

The match-up will be historic no matter the outcome, regardless of who wins or loses. Minnesota would have its first female governor after Amy represented the state in the U.S. Senate for almost 20 years if she is elected. If Lisa wins, she would make history as both the state’s first woman governor and its first Republican woman governor.

Minnesota's race is emblematic of a broader trend of candidates and female political leadership across the country in 2026. Tennessee also has an all-female gubernatorial race, with the Republican nominees being U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and the Democratic nominees, Jerri Green. Tennessee is also guaranteed to send a woman to its governor's palace.

The rise in the number of women being nominated as Governors across the country is indicative of a general shift in political representation. In the 2026 election cycle, reports indicated that there were more women than ever running for Governor in various states.

The coming election is a more than a battle between two political leaders in Minnesota. This is a historic occasion for women in Government, women's leadership, female representation and women in politics. On Nov. 3, it will be up to voters to choose who will be Minnesota's first female governor.