Minnesota Minute: 2026 Legislative Session Preview

February 17, 2026

2026 Legislative Session Preview

The Minnesota Legislature convenes the 2026 Legislative Session today at noon. The expectations for a robust session are low. There are only five weeks of policy committee hearings before committee deadlines. The combination of a short session, political gridlock, and the extraordinary series of tragedies that have unfolded since last June has created an environment where progress will be difficult. Those around the Capitol are still reeling from the assassination of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as the attempted assassination of Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, in a coordinated attack last June. The turmoil deepened with the August 2025 shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis, where two children were killed and dozens were injured. Tensions escalated again in January, when thousands of federal agents surged into Minnesota leading to the deaths of two Minnesotans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Lastly, all 201 legislators and all constitutional officers are up for election this fall, which adds another political dynamic to the session that will certainly impact members’ abilities to get things done.

Senate and House Dynamics

Senate

The composition of both the Minnesota House and Senate will look different from when lawmakers adjourned from the special session last June. In the Senate, the Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL) Caucus will continue to hold a narrow one-seat majority—34 seats to the GOP’s 33. This year, however, two new members will join the chamber: Michael Holmstrom (R), elected to fill the seat left vacant following the passing of Senator Bruce Anderson (R), and former State Representative Amanda Hemmingsen-Jaeger (DFL), who succeeded former Senator Nicole Mitchell. Former Senator Mitchell resigned after she was convicted of burglary after breaking into her stepmother’s home.

House

The House’s partisan balance also remains unchanged, with an even split of 67 DFL members and 67 GOP members. This session, the DFL Caucus will be led by Representative Zack Stephenson, who succeeds former Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman. As mentioned earlier, Hortman and her husband were tragically murdered last summer in their home. This will be the first legislative session in more than two decades without Speaker Emerita Hortman, and her absence will be deeply felt by everyone at the Capitol. Incoming Representative XP Lee (DFL) has filled the vacated Hortman seat. With former state Representative Hemmingsen-Jaeger now elected to the state Senate, her seat has been filled by incoming Representative Shelley Buck (DFL).

On the other side of the aisle, the Republican House Speaker, Lisa Demuth, is running for governor. Her fellow House GOP member, Representative Kristin Robbins is also running for governor, fostering a complicated dynamic in the House GOP Caucus. 2026 is an election year where the state House, Senate, and governor will all be on the ballot.

Governor

Governor Tim Walz (DFL) has announced he will not seek a third term after having previously announced he would run in 2026. With Governor Walz bowing out of the 2026 Gubernatorial race, Minnesota senior U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced she will run for Minnesota governor this fall. Senator Klobuchar is a political juggernaut in the state and enters the race with a long political career in Minnesota and national politics. She began her political career serving as Hennepin County Attorney then being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006, and easily reelected every term since.

Authors

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