Minnesota votes in gubernatorial primary to choose nominee to succeed Gov. Tim Walz

Minnesota voters were at the polls Tuesday in a gubernatorial primary election that will determine who appears on the general election ballot next as the state selects a successor to Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat. The race is being held ahead of the November vote, with primary results expected after polls close.

In the Democratic contest, Sen. Amy Klobuchar sought the party’s nomination to replace Walz. The Hill reported that Klobuchar held a commanding lead in the Democratic primary as ballots were counted, describing the outcome as decisive within the Democratic field.

On the Republican side, President Donald Trump has backed MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, positioning Lindell as a prominent contender in the GOP primary. The Hill’s live coverage framed Trump’s endorsement as a factor in the Republican race, which is also aimed at producing the party’s nominee for governor.

The primary also reflects Minnesota’s broader election administration and party-selection process for statewide office, in which candidates are narrowed through voters’ participation rather than party appointments. With both parties selecting nominees through primaries, the process determines which candidates will proceed to the general election contest for governor.

The election comes as Minnesota’s general political direction shifts from the Walz administration to whichever candidate wins the nomination process and later the general election. For the Democratic nominee, the practical question is who will carry the party’s agenda into the general election campaign. For Republicans, the nomination will set up the GOP’s alternative platform against the eventual Democratic nominee.

As results from precincts continue to be reported, the next step after Tuesday’s primary is determining the nominees for each party before the general election. Minnesota’s general election will then determine the next governor, replacing Walz regardless of party, with the outcome concluding the state’s current gubernatorial transition cycle.